Little Miss Obssesive.

2009-02-27T19:56:00.005+08:00

Au Revoir!?

I deeply apologize to those who haven't expected my sudden withdrawal here on my page. But due to some *technical* problems, I kind of delayed the posting. Errmm. So here I bid you goodbye FOR NOW. I'll be back posting in the summer. Hopefully. If not, I apologize for that. Goodbyes suck, yeah? But sorry, this one has got to be suckiest one yet.

**If you think now, I'll reveal whoever the people behind these names, think again. I said I'd come back. Probably make a new page but I guess the names and the storyline would be the same. :D

So, here are some words... just in case I died the next morning. :))

Easy Walsh Errr...? Don't lie. I know you have the urge to pound me to pieces right now. :)) I'll accept your anger with grace, don't worry. Sorry for snobbing you... and running away. So anytime you wanna stop *this* well.. uhh.. just say so. Don't mind me. I'll be just fine. "Cause there's beauty in the break down". I don't think I could explain what I'm supposed to tell you here.. So, I'll just tell you some other time. :P
Brett Messerschmidt Clarification: Just because I don't talk to you, look at you, and I absolutely ignore you for whatever reasons I have doesn't mean I hate you. On the other hand, if you hate me, Fine. I'll hate you right back. >:))
Celine Colista Colista, my baby bitch. :)) I'm not sorry for anything I did to you. Nope. No regrets. :)) But here's the thing, we're good now. So that's all that matters, right?
Heath Ferro Thanks for everything, Ferro. I owe you a huge part of my life. Hope you find your rightful place in wherever school you're going to.
Jack Black Jack, I hate you. :)) Kidding. Stay stupid, Jack. It makes you, you. :D No, that was not an insult.
Raven Greene Raven, darling. Thank you for sooooo much laughter you had filled me with. I owe you my life, 'cause you helped me with me "great escape". *wink wink* :))
Julian McCafferty. Though you are a snob at school, thanks for lending an ear every once in a while. You know, listening to my whining on Y!IM. :)) Oh, and if Professor *tooooot* finds out about the *toooooot*, you owe me your medal and you life, kay? :)) No, I didn't mean that. I kid. :D :))
Solomon Uley Solomon. Hi. Bye. :)) Thanks for uhhh.. being you? Thanks for... everything. You know, you being *tooooot*'s best friend and all. So I guess... uhh... yeah?!. :))
Brandon Buchanan Buchanan. You're impossible. :)) In a good way! Haha. I don't think I should say anything further. :)) Ai Es Es Youuuu. :)) Oh well. Thanks for uhh.. lending an ear too. And, yeah. :))
Tinsley Carmichael Tinsley. I know I don't talk to you. But I guess, you're still part of my life so I owe you an awknolegdement. We aren't as good as before, but well. That's life.
Anne Stewart Anne, thanks soo much. Specially for the music lessons. Guitar *cough*, Flue *cough*. And etc. Keep in touch, kay?
Drew Gately Drew. I used to loathe you. :)) Yes. But I dunno. I dont wanna get mushyyy. Thanks for... uhh.. WOAHYEAH. :)) Thanks.
Ryan Reynolds Stay cute, chubby cheeks. :D
Harry Dillon MunchkinMan. You owe me money. :)) Cindy's mine. >:) Anyways, thanks for the friendship. Stay in the orbit, kay? You might go too far away I'd never get to bump into you anymore.
Cindy Osment CINDY! I love you. You're absotively posilutely puuuuurrrdyyfulllll.
Verena Arneval V, Thanks for the advice, the entertainment and whatever else there is to name.
Kate Spades Kate Sweetie, I know you said you'd hate me if I stop posting. :)) Nonetheless, it'd be useless if I kept you waiting, right? So, sorry. Thanks for the help, the advice and the time. :D
Rifat Butuox Thank youuu R. For the flowers, the cake, the friendship. I dont care if Professor *tooooot* caught me with your phone. It's just a first offense anyway. :)) And who the fuck cares, yeah?
Pete, Mionette and Cassiopoea Thank you for the laughtrips. Stay in touch. :D
Cornette and Zach Mom, Dad. :)) Thank you for absolutely everything. You guys are blessings from up above.
Everyone else I might have forgotten? Sorry for having you forgotten. But whoever you are, thanks for whatever good or bad you've done. :))

This is getting cheesy. I'll stop before I completely freak myself out. I'll be back in the summer, somehow. Hopefully, I will. Kate, don't hate me. Please. :D Haha. So how do I end the last post here on this page?

I'll end it like this:

Byeeee. :))

XOXO

Callie Vernon
February 27, 2009. Signing Out For Now. :D

Break.

2009-02-07T20:38:00.005+08:00

While all the rest are busy running back and forth from their games, there are some who've chosen to loosen up and use the spare time to take a break from all the schoolwork. Some may call it lazy and boring, well, give that to them 'cause its true.

"... the 2009 Intramurals officially open!" That signal from Mrs. van Draken instantly spelled 'freedom' to all the pupils in St. Lucius. The seniors were off singing and jumping around as they sang along to the intro of Rico Blanco's 'Yugto'. The juniors were rejoicing with their 'hep-hep-juniors' thing; the sophies were sitting down yet cheering loudly with their 's-o-p-h-i-e-s, sophie's let's go, let's go!' trip, while the inexperienced underdog freshmen were standing up with their unsynchronized mechanically random whoo's, whoa's, and yeah's.
"Excuse me, everyone. Can I have your attention, please?" Coach Evans stood up by the microphone and broke through the noise.
The noise did volume down, until the whole gymnasium was silent.
"Ahem," Coach Evans coughed, "All games will start at exactly 9:45. Stay away from the restricted areas, people. If you've got no games, stay in your headquarters."
"Tch, as if. I'm out." Callie Vernon side-commented.
"Freshmen, all of you will go back to the headquarters to sign the attendance." Professor Hughes, their team manager, announced.

As everyone was bustling about at the headquarters, Callie wiggled herself out of the heavy crowd and walked her way to the ladie's room to change.
"Callie," Lily said hesitantly.
"Oh hey, Lil!" Callie said happily, trying to hide her exhaustion from getting away from the crowd.
"I'm going to go find Professor Brown, okay?" She said.
"Okay. I'm gonna go get dressed already. Meet you at chess in ten, 'kay?"
Lily smiled and headed downstairs to look for Professor Brown.

Ryan Reynolds and Jack Black met Callie's glance as she came out of the ladie's room.
"Hey, Callie. Where to?" Ryan's baby face was still so cute. It's been some time since Callie's really talked to him. Maybe its time to do a little catching up, dont you think? There's no Brett to worry about anyway, so why not?
"Chess. You?"
"Games of the General." Callie's eyes moved over to Jack, and for some reason she couldn't explain, she fell off to a giggle. "Hi, Jack."
"Hello... Callie." Jack said, laughing.
"Where are you at?"
"Games of the General too, with Ryan."
"Hey! What do you mean you're coming with me?" Ryan complained, shocked.
"I'm going with you." Jack said like how those people in the movies say it.
Callie laughed in amusement. It was funny seeing Ryan and Jack argue.
"I never knew you play chess, Callie." Jack said, catching Callie's attention.
"I don't." Callie laughed.
"Then what are you going to do there? Easy doesn't play chess so there'd be no one to watch, really." Jack said as-a-matter-of-fact-ly.
"Steering committee, Jack." Callie sighed in embarrassment. She was really supposed to be up for Flippable, or any water sport in that case. But then Natasha Megabitch Wood took Callie out and put in her own bitch friends.
"Cool. We're part of the SC, too." Ryan's eyes brightened up. Looks like he doesnt have to be stuck with Jack alone now.
"Fuh-ree-dommm..." And there was Jack, running around in circles with his hands up in the air, laughing and rolling his eyes like a lunatic. Silly, Jack.
"Shut up, dumbass." Ryan hit jack on the head, stopping Jack's embarrassing insanity.
"Aw," Jack rubbed the hit spot and moved his mouth to a pout. And no, it was far from cute. Terrifying, actually. "No fun."
As they walked towards the small hidden board games area, Patrick Stone appeared next to Ryan.
"Hey, Patrick." Ryan, Jack, and Callie said in unison.
"SC, too?" Callie guessed. He was wearing white. All SC's wear white.
"Games of the General." He said, hitting Ryan lightly on his arm.

"Chess at the left side of the area, Games of the General at the right, yeah?" Professor Jade made her announcement as she dropped the heavy stack of GG boards on the table. The students immediately parted: the chess contestants and helpers put themselves at right, while the GG players and arbiters at left.
"Steering committee, love?" Kate Spades said sweetly as she looked up from the chess board she and Phoebe Lincoln were playing at.
"Oh yeah." Callie smiled back, unsure if she should really help out on chess, knowing that she doesnt really know how to play the game.
"You play chess?" Kate asked as she smiled and moved her knight.
"No, not really." Callie felt downright stupid at this moment. Who the fuck in the world doesn't know how to play chess? Oh wait, Callie.
"That's good. You wouldn't know if I was cheating already." Kate joked while Callie and Phoebe giggled.
"So, Phoebe, anything I need to know? Rules? Regulations, yeah?" Since Callie knew nothing about chess, it was good that she'd found out as much as possible before the game even starts.
"'Tis depending on the commissioner, really. If the rules are touch-move, that means the one you touch is the only one you're allowed to move at that turn."
"Yeah?"
"If the rules list down no castling, then no castling."
"Castling... yeah?" Callie paused for a second, trying to recall what castling means. "I give up. What's castling?"
"It that move when you interchange the position of the King and the Rook."
"Anything else?"
"Nope. I think. I don't know. Just borrow the rules from Professor Brown, and you're solved."
"Ah'ayt. Thanks."
"No pro--" Phoebe's eyes suddenly widened. "Jeez. I didn't see that coming."
Callie followed her gaze down at the chessboard. Kate was smiling, Phoebe was not so happy. Did that mean Phoebe's King was at stake?

"All right people, let's check your line ups." Professor brown came dodging in with a box of chessboards and a stash of chess clocks. These must have been the chess clocks Professor Haven keeps boasting about. "Freshmen Hamadryads: Boys?" He looked up from his paper and scanned the area for boys in green shirts.
"McCafferty, Julian?" He yelled, seeking for the young man's pressence.
"Hey, yeah." Julian raised his hand, as he jumped out from behind the crowd of highschool students that surrounded Professor Brown. Julian McCafferty won the silver medal at the Inter State Chess Competition a few weeks ago in Minneapolis. Freshmen, or I-C at least, have gotten pressure on him. But really, he doesn't seem to be that bothered.
"Dandy, Thomas?"
"Present!" Thomas Dandy adjusted his glasses and pulled up his jumpers. He was always considered the nerdiest person in town, but that didn't matter so much to Callie anymore. She owes it to him for teaching her how to do her Calc properly. Hurray for T.D!
The attendance checking took almost like that felt like forever. So Callie got out of the crowd and took a seat by the two chairs that didnt have a table.
"Taking forever, huh?" Lily came up from behind. Callie turned to face her, wondering where's she been all this time.
"Oh yeah."
"It's a good thing we have the whole day to waste after this, yeah?" Lily suggested, taking the other seat.
"The whole day to spend rather than the whole day to waste is what I'd rather fancy." The word 'waste' was so... not caring. The time Callie kind of had left at St. Lucius was pretty much limited. So wasting her time was clearly not an option.
"Mmhmm.. Optimism." Lily commented.
"Naah. Not really." Callie denied. She didn't really like the whole 'optimistic' approach.

It been a little of thirty minutes since the Chess games have started. It was interesting at first, but then it grew boring watching people trying to defend their kings using wooden chess pieces. It made no logic to Callie. Or perhaps, that was what she was always lacking? Callie was leaning on the wall, pretending to watch Phoebe fight some sophomore. The sophomore had long black hair, bangs covering her face. It was a look, granted. But Callie never imagined emo looking people playing chess. She thought it was hilarious. Just about as Callie was to laugh, a recognized figure came up next to her. Though, the figure was across the nylon string that parted Chess from Games of the General.
"Are you supposed to do that for the whole Intrams?" He said.
"No, just for 9-11 of today." Callie said, slowly facing towards him.
"Well that must suck."

I dont care.

2009-02-06T20:47:00.006+08:00

There's nothing better than watching a few rounds of chess, catching up on some of your distant friends and roaming around the campus with the freedom to do anything you'd want. But before I even start telling the adventures of absolute freedom, let's take it back before it all began. The Annual Sports Festival, I mean. St. Lucius's Annual Sports Festival has come around once again, and this time its the only chance their freshmen can at least stop acting like wimps and try to gain some dignity. It's the time when freshmen HAVE to earn some pride, gain dignity and get a wee bit of respect from the upperclassmen. How do you do that? I have no idea.

Callie Vernon glided the zipper of her bag while she carelessly threw her wallet in the air. She dropped her bag on the dirty blue floor of the corridors and walked chirpily inside of the classroom. Minding her own business, munching on her crackers and flooding her mouth with water, everything seemed so quiet. Good quiet. She liked it. No Brett talking about whoever guy, no Brett laughing for no reason. For short, no Brett. She took a seat next to Anne Stewart, still minding her own business. A smile was all she had in store for her classmates as replies and greetings.
"Callie?" Callie recognized this voice. Girl voice, soft, high pitched, not Celine's squeaky voice, but still very irritating. And then it hit her. Brett Messerschmidt.

Four days without having to bare with Brett felt like a relief. Callie could do anything she'd want, without having to consider whatever Brett had to say about it. She could hang out with anyone she wanted to without having to think how out of place Brett would feel. From this point of view, yeah, it does kind of sound selfish. Callie sees otherwise; there's nothing bad about being selfish for now, especially when you've been trying to be selfless at the most possible whenever. Selfless to Brett, anyway. At times, Brett would simply leave Callie and join random people, she'd ditch her for guys like Ed, and what's most likely to happen is that she'd ditch her for Travis too.

Callie didn't bother speaking at first. She locked her eyes at Brett and gave her a vacant expression.
"Brett." It wasnt a greeting. It was a statement. "I must have totally blinked at the part I wanted to talk to you."
"Callie, what's wrong?" Brett mumbled pitifully.
"Everything is. Why ask that question when things have been this way since forever?" It was a rhetorical question. And as expected, Brett put the Sympathy card on the table. And none of what did she know, it was she who needed the sympathy.
"You don't come with us during lunch. You barely speak to us anymore. What's happening? Is it Ana?" Brett looked like she was about to beg. It was pitiful, but Callie as of the moment, was numb. No pity did she see, nor did she even care if there was any.
"So? Hey, just 'cause Ana's a bitch, doesn't mean you have to blame everything on her. She's innocent this time." Callie said jokingly. It wasn't a secret that Brett was about to lose her temper just thinking that she's being serious and Callie was about to laugh at her right in her face. But that didn't matter anymore. Brett couldn't do anything to ruin Callie's life, besides spread and send GMs of Callie's passwords. And no, other people knowing your password, not really life wrecking.
"Then what? Is it me?" Finally, she came to her senses. Callie was being pretty obvious, so it's kind of disappointing to see Brett only finding out now.
Silence. Callie didn't answer. Instead, she turned to Raven and laughed. Unsure of what Callie was laughing about, Raven just laughed along.
"Okay, so it is." Brett took a breath and paused, "Is it cause of the things you told me? Did I do it again?"
Callie turned to Brett, her smile falling into a frown. It wasn't the first time Callie tried to explain what Brett's conscious and unconscious actions meant to her. "I dont know."
"I dont know what to say." Brett half whispered.
"Don't bother saying anything. I wouldn't believe you anyway."
Brett sighed in frustration. Callie rolled her eyes in amusement. It felt weird being this harsh.
"Can't we just talk it out?" She pleaded.
"We can. But I'd rather not." Callie's line dropped.
"Why not?" Brett asked, looking like she was about to burst her bubble.
"What's it to you? I said I'd rather not, and I'd like to keep it that way." Callie scowled.
"Hey, hey. Stop before both of you rip each other's head's apart." Raven said, gesturing like a referee in the middle of a chaotic rumble.
"I wouldn't do that. As for her, I'm not so sure." Callie said sarcastically.
"Callie! This wouldn't be so hard if you just tried to talk to me." There it went. She just busted her bubble. Brett was in the condition to slap someone. And that meant Callie had to back away. No way was she going to let Brett even touch her to humiliation. It was even more humiliating. And knowing herself, Callie couldn't lay an arm on someone, not unless she didn't even mean to.
"Well this wouldn't be so hard if you would just stop tailing behind me like a dog. I said I didn't want to talk to you because it would just cause my anger to build up. And here you are, forcing me to talk you, thus building my anger up. " Callie hissed. Brett's tone was accusatory, Callie didn't really like that. And not little help did Brett's command do. It actually caused more damage.
"Callie!" Brett paused, closed her eyes and focused on her breathing. "Callie," She said, trying to act calm, "Please, talk to me."
"Brett," Callie mimicked mockingly. "Leave me alone."
"I'm trying to fix this, okay!" Her calmness drained and her frustration rose into boiling point.
"Well, you don't, Brett. You just stay away," Callie paused dramatically, still trying to annoy Brett. "From me, my boyfriend and friends. You're done here." A faint smile as an insult was what Callie offered to Brett. Callie stood up and left Brett looking at nothing. With Raven and Tiffany beside her, she looks like she's just won. Think again, Messerschmidt. With that last line Callie just dropped, it was good enough for a movie. Apparently, Brett's try to fix things wasn't exactly sweet. Revenge, on the other hand, might be a nice idea, but not this time. Callie just thought that it would be such a waste planning on ruining on Brett's life.

Oh, wait. Did I mention? This is to be continued. ;)

:|

2009-01-24T16:09:00.008+08:00

[ This post isn't really like the rest. It's jumbled up and makes no sense. I'm sorry, I'm not really in my writing mood.]

Whoever said "Too much is bad", is a bastard; but he's still a genius.

- - - - -

Callie was lying on a hospital bed, her heart barely beating. Her breathing was slow, and she was dead cold. Pale lips, cold skin. Dark purple circles were pigmented around her eyes. Surrounding her were seven other doctors, and four nurses pleading and struggling to keep her alive. She wasn't dead. The heart monitor still made that beeping sound, and it was still moving so that pretty meant she was still alive. Beep, Beep. She heard the heart monitor sound. She heard the voice of her mother mourning, her father telling her mother to stop crying, and the doctors fiddling with their instruments. They were panicking. It was dark, and she swears she could've felt her skin coming off, and bones cracking. Beep, beep. The heart monitor went again. Brett's laugh faded into the background, and Callie's eyes opened a bit. The blinding lights of the emergency room was what she saw as she tried to gain consciousness. Breathing heavily, she felt the warm touch of Easy's hand brush against her bare arm. "Don't leave. Please, stay." he said. Beep beep. She watched tears fall off his eyes, but wasn't able to speak. "I... I..." Callie struggled speaking, then it all went white. Callie couldn't see well, but she could still see Easy, weeping. The beeping sound continued, it grew louder. Easy was fading away. Beep, beep. Suddenly, the heart monitor had stopped at a final sound. Beeeeeeeeeep.

- - - - -

It was 6: 45 am when Callie found herself on her bed. What had happened? As she tried hopelessly to rise, the feeling of nausea overtook her. God, her head hurt. She ran to the bathroom to take some pills, but then that was when she realized something. She shut the bathroom lights and scurried into the kitchen. She didn't care if she woke her Aunt or Dorota. In the kitchen, she took a bowl and filled half of it with cereal and poured over some milk. She was late. And judging on the speed of her movements, she wasn't going to make it.

- - - - -

"Fuck." Callie murmured when she came across the big black clock of St. Lucius. 7: 37. She was late. She walked rapidly through the corridors. Her heels sounded noisily, and her eyes were still falling. Callie's wet hair and messy look spelled "I don't want to go school" over and over again. That was certainly not a thing you would want your teachers to think. Even if it was true. History was her first class, Professor Dalton was a nice guy. He never really cared if you were late or not. As long as you attended his class, but if you were to be absent, you had to have a good reason. "Why are you late?" A sleepy voice came from behind. Catching up with her, was Easy. "I woke up late." Callie said, thinking over the dream she had last night. "Me too." He said, flashing a flimsy half smile. "Hurrying's no use. You're still gonna go down to the office." He mentioned. Probably he noticed Callie in a hurry. "I know." Callie said sadly. "'Kay. Bye." She said as she waved at Easy. He was going up another flight of stairs, while Callie was rushing through to get to I-C. Callie knocked, and grinned embarrassed. Professor Dalton waved his hand, gesturing that she came in. Callie walked through while her classmates' eyes fell upon her, looking at her bitterly. Callie was never a class favorite, and she was starting to feel that already.

- - - - -

"Thank God." Callie cried discreetly as the bell finally rang. Spending two periods of Calc having your math teacher tease you is one thing you certainly would not wish for. Callie's face was red. Professor Haven claimed her to be blushing. Her classmates had the same accusation. But Callie felt otherwise. Her face was flushed red and hot from irritation. But of course, you can't flame back at a teacher. Especially one like Professor Haven. Flame at him, and hell assure you your life is ruined. "Freshmen, practice down at the quad. Pronto." Pete announced confidently. Not even bothering waiting for Brett, Callie went down. She dropped her bags and just stood there as she waited for her classmates to get down.

"Hey, Cal!" Cassiopoea called out. Callie turned to smile, when she figured Cassiopoea and Tinsley were around a foot from her face. Now that was awkward. "Yeah?" Callie said instead. "Have you read Brett's blog?" Tinsley asked. And before Callie could even answer, Cassiopoea had "She used the same names from your blog." coming out of her mouth. Callie smiled at that. She remembered that very night Brett had asked her if she could use the names from her blog, but that cussed Callie out so she decided on not replying. And she also remembered that other night, when Easy called himself "Attorney E. W." and said that she was being sued for the said action. Brett didn't take it any seriously, especially when she knew Easy had said it. She never really took Easy seriously, as a matter of fact, not much too him seriously. He always had this thing about being funny, but of course he had a other side. And that other side, was rarely seen. "Uhh. Yeah. I know." Callie answered. "Aren't you mad? Or frustrated? Or annoyed?" Tinsley and Cassiopoea said in unison. "Yes I am." was Callie's real answer. But instead she said, "You guys know what? I don't even care anymore. Let her do what she wants. I don't give a damn." Callie had a feeling that they were going to follow up more questions, so Callie just smiled and said, "Excuse me" as she walked away. As much as she wished otherwise, Callie felt herself starting to let her rage at Brett take over her.

Brett Messerschmidt and Raven Greene were over by Solomon Uley, Lev Ryan, and Travis Barker. Solomon, Lev and Travis were the drummers. Brett and Raven were there helping them out figure out a good enough beat for the cheer. As for Callie, she was stuck sitting down leaning against the dusty old bus. "When are we going to take a break?" Callie turned to ask Taylor Granger who happened to be sitting behind her. "I don't think we are." Taylor said with a deep sigh. Callie frowned and turned back around. "Break, break, break." Callie pleaded. And like an answered prayer, Professor York announced loudly. "Take a 15 minute break. All of you will be back here in the count of ten the moment the siren signals."
"Woot!" Callie stood up in glee. Her legs felt wobbly. She walked over to Brett, Raven, and the drummer boys. "What's up?" She asked Raven, completely ignoring Brett. Talking to Brett would just cause her rage to flame more. Raven laughed and glanced at Brett. "Does she know?" Raven asked Brett, hitting her lightly on her arm. "Know what?" Callie asked clueless. Raven pulled Callie's arm far away from the drummers and away from the crowd that surrounded them. Brett, unfortunately followed. "Brett's digging Travis Barker. The guy with the--" Callie cut Raven off. "Yeah, I know him." Callie said bluntly. "I know, right. He plays drums, and he's hot. OMFG." Brett squealed. That was so not like Brett. Weird. But, calm down, Callie. Tolerate. "What about--" Callie stopped herself from continuing. No talking to Brett, she remembered. But Callie couldn't help but wonder, if Brett was crushing on Travis, what happened to Ed Thorne? It's not like she could like both when Ed knows that she likes him and he likes her back. Liking Travis would be... so heart breaking for Ed. That thought infuriated Callie. Brett never liked getting hurt. But here she is, hurting someone, without that person even knowing. It was one thing Callie would've never thought Brett would do. It was one thing Natasha would do. Brett is so different from Natasha. Or maybe, she WAS different from Natasha. Fingers crossed, Callie hoped she was wrong. Sure, those little squeals for laughs were acceptable, but with Brett's stares at Travis, surely they weren't for laughs.

Starting Over.

2009-01-19T19:10:00.004+08:00

Easy Walsh's dark brown hair was messed up, his skin moist with sweat and his emerald green eyes shined whenever the sunlight hit them. He had been running around for the past half an hour playing tag with Harry and some of his other classmates.
Callie was seated by the St. Lucius Monument, staring at the leaves dance against the cemented ground. Today hadn't been that much of an isolated one for her. She laughed when she had to, smiled when she needed to, and just act like she's fine so that Brett, Raven, and Tiffany would just back off. Callie didn't like the feeling of her being watched while she ate. It wasn't comfortable, she felt like she was getting fatter by the minute. So she'd reckon that if she acted like how they did, they'd just shut up and stop minding.

"What's up with you two anyway?" Callie snapped back. Raven and Verena had been talking to each other about Verena's problems with Rifat and Mionette. "I don't know. Rifat's being impossible again 'cause I talk to Brandon a lot." Verena said bluntly and rolled her eyes. Rifat's little itty bitty crush, or would I say, Mega Ultra Obsession on Brandon Buchanan had never been a secret. Brandon had always been chased by the ladies. And usually, by the wrong ones. "She's always like that anyway, even to me." Callie joined in and tried to make Verena feel she wasn't alone. "Yeah. Exactly. I wouldn't want Rifat to do anything of what she did to you to me." Verena wailed. "Brandon Buchanan is like a celebrity. For some reason I dont know why. And just talking to him would become an issue. Get used to it, V. People talk." Callie advised. Even up til now, the whole "issue" between him and her didn't seem like it was going to be let go by those fucking gossipers too easily. And did I mention, not too soon? A moment of silence fell upon Callie. She meant not talking, and just sitting quiet staring at the people come and go while Brett and Raven go somewhere and do something, like always. It bothered Callie how Brett would every now and then deliberately leave her without even saying so to go somewhere or do something with some random person. Not that Callie was against that, but it was happening so often that it started to get irritating.

"I'm gonna be by the chapel for a while." Callie mentioned as she walked away from the three other girls. Her heels thudded loudly against the marble floor of the St. Lucius Chapel. Callie took a seat and tilted her head down. From then on, she didn't know what was happening. She looked up a bit to take a peek, and all she really saw was Easy Walsh walking slowly around the chapel. Or maybe she was hallucinating. Either way, she knew whoever she saw, or thought she saw, was Easy. She lowered her head once again and laid it on her arms. She felt like she was about to cry, but she didn't really have that much of a reason to. After approximately ten minutes, Callie raised her heavy head and rubbed her puffy eyes. She looked around, and saw no one but a bunch of second graders running around. She stepped out of the chapel and roamed around the small gravel courtyard. She took herself a seat right in the middle. Callie hugged her knees and looked at the sky, watching the clouds move almost unnoticeably. The birds were flying in a V going to the east, a few stars were coming out, and the moon was getting visible. Callie would've considered everything amazing and nearly magical, until her view had been blocked by Pete and Raven. "Were you the girl moping in the chapel a while ago?" Pete asked, seemingly surprised. With confusion, Callie nodded slowly. "Oh." He said back. "We're gonna go to Professor Hughes. You coming?" He invited. Callie's answer would've been yes, but then she thought that maybe she could get to bed a little earlier tonight. "No, thanks. I'll be heading home." She said softly. She tilted her head and let her jet black hair fall like a black curtain. "Are you sure you'll be heading home, as in your house?" Raven paused and smiled slyly. "Or home, with Easy?"
"Uh.. Home, as in, where I can sleep? Home. House? Whatever." Callie said bitterly. Raven didn't have to bring that up. Everythin Easy said the other night still stung. Just because Callie was laughing with her again, didn't mean she was completely okay.
"You can sleep with Easy," Pete said teasingly. "You're disgusting." Callie retorted.
"Alright. But if we see you with Easy, that means you went home to Easy." Raven warned.
"Whatever." Callie said bluntly and walked away.
"I think you pissed her off," Callie heard Brett say. Wrong. She wasn't pissed at Raven. Callie would've considered herself pissed at her more than herself pissed at Raven.
"I don't think so," Raven contradicted confidently. "Bye, Callie!" She screamed across the street soccer field. Callie looked back, waved and flashed them her most convincing smile.

As Calie avoided the bouncing volleyballs that her fellow freshmen flew in the air, she walked towards the gate to get her bag and get home. She could hear Verena, Raven and Brett screaming from across the campus, she could see Patrick Stone practicing his awesome dance moves, and she just noticed Easy Walsh going the same wa she was. What luck. Callie bowed her head and pretended to not notice him, but once they reached the common point of their intersection, she could feel his eyes heavy on her. Callie let her hair fall once more, blocking her view of Easy. "Let's talk." Easy said imperatively. It was more of an order than a request. He wasn't even asking. He was commanding. Callie looked up at him, and tried to find answers in his eyes. How could he still want to talk after all that he said? How could he be so mean to hurt her by trying to converse with her when he knows she almost died? Or maybe he didn't know. Whatever. It was still mean. It was harsh, and Callie didn't think her sanity could take one second of it. Callie nodded and followed his lead.

"What's happening to you?" He asked, and was obviously expecting a good answer.
"What do you mean what's happening to me?" Callie said, putting up a strong front. Kind of. Or not. Whatever.
"Raven said you weren't eating and you were acting weird the other day. She asked what was wrong with you, and so I said I didn't know. Now, what's happening to you?" He explained. When did Raven tell him? Maybe that was last night when Raven, Pete and Easy went home really late because they were making the cheer with Professor Hughes. That was so weird. Mrs. Walsh called a few times, asking where her son was. It kind of felt like she was forcing Callie to tell her where her son was. Unfortunately, Callie went home early yesterday, so she had no idea.
"Nothing."
"Why are you tearing up then?"
"I'm not." She lied. She was. But her contacts were absorbing the tears, so they didn't really fall.
"Yes you are." He insisted. "Your eyes are glassy."
"It's the contacts."
"No, it isn't."
"Yes, it is."
Putting up a strong front wasn't the best Callie was at. So meaning most of her attempts never really worked not unless she had back up: Brett. But since Brett was barely there anymore, she was done for. Callie kept silent, but set aside her silence, she was restless. She walked back and forth, looked from the distance to random places. Easy was there, leaning against the wall by the clinic. His arms folded, his head bowed down, and his right foot tapping the floor. Finally, Callie gave in, and leaned beside him.
"I'm sorry," Easy sounded unsure of what he was sorry for. It was disappointing, but it was better than nothing. "for the stuff I said the other day. I was just... I don't know. It just came to me then snap." He explained. Callie's thoughts of him just saying all this because of pitty filled her head, but then she realized she didn't care about whatever reason he had for him to be doing all this. All that mattered now was, he said sorry. Whether he meant it or not, at least he tried. Callie didn't care if he was lying, if he was insincere, if he was just playing. She didn't care, and she didn't know what she was supposed to believe. The only thing that was important to her was Easy was with her now. For whatever reason, he was there. And if he was playing, lying, or just pretending, that didn't matter. Callie didn't bother thinking about how she would deal with Easy once he says he was just pretending and just trying because he pitied her. She didn't bother thinking about how much hurt she would feel by then. For once, she cared about what was happening now. Not the future.
"No, I'm sorry." Callie didn't want Easy to think she wasn't regretting anything. "I should have known. I should've been sensitive enough to know."

Starting over may not be the easiest thing on earth right now, but it's one of the options that Callie considered. It was always better than giving up without even trying, right?

"All I ever wanted was for us to start over. But you didn't even try."

"Three words, eight letters. Say it."

--Blair Waldorf

Runaway.

2009-01-14T19:18:00.002+08:00

The scent of fried chicken filled the air and the noise of the working construction workers pierced Callie's ears during Physics Class. Callie Vernon was on her everyday mopey mood, her head in her left hand as she lazily blinked at Professor Eisenhower. Apparently, after the almost 48 hours since Easy had told her what was bothering him, she still hadn't gotten over it.

"Pssst." Someone called from behind.
"Callie," a male voice whispered not so softly. Callie made a lax turn and lethargically blinked at Brandon Buchanan.
"Mmm?" Callie sounded. Her eyes were practically drooping. She swore she could have fallen asleep that very instant if only if it wasn't for her contact lenses.
"Could you help me?" He asked, the big orange scissors pointing at a roll of red price tag stickers on his desk.
"What the hell is that?" Callie said sluggishly. She sounded like she had just woke up. And she could tell Professor Eisenhower had been eyeing her for a while.
"I need you to put it on random people's desks. I need it for Spanish class later." Brandon explained sheepishly.
"Why don't you do it?" Calie retorted. She was too sleepy to do errands.
"I got to cut these out." He pointed the big orange scissors at a stack of paper.
"Oh." Callie sighed and turned around front.
"But," Brandon added. Callie turned around again, and raised her eyebrows.
"But what?" Callie complained. Her body was too dead to be nice.
"No one can see you." He said slyly.
"What the fuck?" Callie's eyes brightened up, her drowsiness was gone. She laughed.
"No, I mean," Brandon bit his cheeks to stop the laughter from bursting out. "No one should know you put it."
"What the hell man?" Callie giggled.
"If you don't want to, that's fine too."
"No. I'll do it. I wanna find a reason to run away from people," Callie's smile fell into a straight face, "and you just gave me one."
"Run away from people?" Brandon asked, sounding curious.
"I'll pretend that's a rhetorical question and not answer." Callie said bitterly and faced front once again.

. . . . .

"What are you getting?" Brett Messerschmidt asked chirpily while they scanned the cafeteria. Nonetheless, it didn't make a difference. The food was still the same. It still sucked. Callie focused her eyes on the floor and decided to just not answer. "Callie?" Brett said, getting in her face. "I don't know." Callie mumbled. She looked away and swiftly walked towards the next stall. Tiffany got large fries, and Brett got some strawberry flavored yogurt. Callie watched them eat. She didn't feel like having lunch today.
"Callie, why aren't you eating?" Tiffany said in concern.
"I don't want to." Callie said plainly. She stared across the quad and pretended to watch Alan St. Girard lose his ass to Damien Lockheart.
Tiffany and Brett had their regular chat, while Callie sat down impatiently, scanning the floors to see if I-C was empty. Callie swung her legs back and forth, twisted and turned, looking from left to right.
Callie finally got super bored. She jumped off the table and strutted across the scorching heat of the plain cemented quad. She didn't bother looking back at Tiffany and Brett. If she did, she'd have to explain. And at that moment, she didn't have an explanation.
The noisy thudding of her healed leather shoes echoed through the hall. She climbed the flight of stairs, and as she came to turn, her eye noticed someone familiar. Callie squinted to recognize who it was. Easy Walsh. What was he doing going upstairs?
Callie shook out of herself and just went on as if she didn't notice him. She stomped and created noise through the corridor.
She rapidly took out the roll of red price tag stickers from her pocket and started sticking them on random desks while roaming around. Once she had finished sticking them, she dropped them on Brandon's desk with a loud "claaackkk."

Now that she was alone, Callie could do anything she wanted. She wandered around the building, visited the library a few times, walked around the secluded places in the campus, ran away from Brett and Tiffany, sat by the chapel and went back and forth to the classroom. Brett and Tiffany really had to follow her, had they? It made no sense. Let them be, it wasn't her fault they were too persistent following her.

. . . . .

"Callie, what's the matter?" Brett said, obviously tired of Callie's mind games. Callie shrugged, and turned away. She leaned in forward on her desk and shoved her head in her hands. "Callie, talk to me." Brett pleaded. Callie eyed Brett and sighed. She looked away again.
"Who's the drama specialist now?" Brandon spoke jokingly as he leaned against the wall. Callie half smiled and looked at him. "It's still you."
"I don't think so, drama queen." He teased.
"Whatever man." Callie said back, looking away from him and Brett.
"Well, what's your problem this time?" He asked, finally getting serious.
"Nothing." Callie said simply.
"Oh come on." He said, as if he was expecting something more than that of what simple answer Callie had given. "If you're best friend fails, then maybe your..." He paused for a while.
"My?" Callie's lips curled into a smile. She sat up and challenged him to continue what he was about to say.
"Your..." He thought for a while. Callie raised her eyebrows and waited impatiently.
"Your... somewhat friend..." He first said. But then started off on, "Your south east seatmate."
"Ugh, nerd." Callie teased. Does Professor Eisenhower really have to be THAT effective that even in conversations, they were speaking in "vector" talk?
"Is it Easy?" He then said. How did he know?
Callie looked at him, her smile back to a straight face. She blinked, sighed and then looked away.
"So it is..." He trailed off. "Well, don't give yourself off. It's just him." He said trying to cheer Callie up.
"That's the whole point. It's him." Callie's eyes teared up, so she looked away so none of them would see her tears fall.

. . . . .

Finally, after an hour of Spanish with Mrs. Lopez, the bell rang. It was thankfully dismissal. Callie stood up, got her bags and just left. She planned on not going with her everyday overstaying routine. She didn't mind if Raven looked for her, much more if Easy did. She just wanted to go home. All she needed right now was silence. Isolation. Isolation so that she could think. Isolation so that she could let out her sorrow, and plan on how she was going to make up for all the time she wasted without Easy. She was determined to make it up to him, but she just didn't know how the fuck she was supposed to do that.

Truth and Consequence.

2009-01-12T20:28:00.005+08:00

Blue twilight hung over the roofs in New York. It was unnaturally quiet in New York. The holidays are over, and a few days ago, classes had started. It's a nice chilly Sunday evening. Callie had her eyes glued to the computer screen, and her hands moving rapidly, pressing each key of the keyboard.

Professor Hughes, the 7th grade religion teacher had assigned his "puppets". And one of them was Callie. She and Brandon Buchanan had been working on a cheer for the upcoming sports festivities for a while now. Not that Callie had a problem with that. She wasn't quite sure about what Brandon had to say about it though. Regardless, Professor Hughes wasn't asking for their approval anyway. Neither was he asking for anyone else's.

One thing was for certain: Easy didn't seem to be quite too comfortable about the Buchanan-Vernon team up. Sure, it was obvious that he was trying to hide it. Even if he didn't mention it, Callie knew. By the way he'd look when she and Brandon were called by Professor Hughes, Callie was sure. Probably, keeping distance from Brandon would've been the obvious solution, but since she had to actually work with Brandon, she couldn't really execute that. And it wouldn't be the smartest move either; Callie shouldn't really be stuck in between whatever Easy had against Brandon. Not that it made sense, but it was true. Callie understood Easy's part, sure, so she decided to just keep understanding him instead of arguing and shit. She'd rather take whatever he'd throw at her than have to throw some back.

_______________________________

EasyWalsh: Whats with the 'you're not okay'?
CVernon: I'm just tired.
EasyWalsh: Tired of what?
CVernon: Tired. Tired tired. Tired.
EasyWalsh: Of what?
CVernon: Uhh.. School work, I guess?
EasyWalsh: Hell I'm excited to learn now
EasyWalsh: My brain needs feeding
CVernon: Im not. My brain needs a break.
EasyWalsh: Break?
EasyWalsh: WTH
EasyWalsh: It's only been 2 days.
EasyWalsh: And u barely had any schoolwork.
EasyWalsh: I bet that clinic check up did something wrong to you
CVernon: *laughing emoticon*
EasyWalsh: Hey
EasyWalsh: Benny's asking if you wanna come to her house
EasyWalsh: at Saturday
EasyWalsh: It's her birthday.
CVernon: I know.
EasyWalsh: That is, if u don't have any other plans
CVernon: I dont. Ill try.
EasyWalsh: Ok
EasyWalsh: Aren't you angry
EasyWalsh: Pete's making you do the cheer?
CVernon: It'd be too much if I would call it anger. Prolly I'm just kind of annoyed.
EasyWalsh: I know you're not.
EasyWalsh: 'Cause you're making it with Brandon
CVernon: You know what, I'll just shut up.
CVernon: Okay, so i cant shut up. What's up with you anyway?
EasyWalsh: Lets just say I can't control my self
CVernon: What are you trying to imply?
EasyWalsh: Nothing
CVernon: Then why are you acting this way?
EasyWalsh: I can't control myself
EasyWalsh: I thought I locked up that part of me
CVernon: What happened?
EasyWalsh: Well its just getting to me
EasyWalsh: I'd rather not talk anymore
CVernon: Fine.
EasyWalsh: 'Cause you're gonna be like:
EasyWalsh: Nevermind.
CVernon: No. Continue. I wont get mad.
EasyWalsh: Nevermind.
EasyWalsh: You are making ur cheer
CVernon: Please, I'm trying to compramise here?
EasyWalsh: He'd get impatient if you won't cooperate
CVernon: Please?
EasyWalsh: Talking will make things worse
EasyWalsh: I'm a dude its fine for me to keep to myself
EasyWalsh: It'll just eat me inside slowly killing me
CVernon: Not talking about it wouldn't make it better either. It'd just build up, and then suddenly its just gonna explode.
EasyWalsh: Well when i talk about it
EasyWalsh: It explodes there
EasyWalsh: So let the fuse take its time
EasyWalsh: It may not explode now
EasyWalsh: Maybe some other time
EasyWalsh: Or it might get defused if all goes well and i conquer myself
EasyWalsh: Ohh and heres a riddle or metaphor whatever to give you clue on what been bothering me
EasyWalsh: What once was a strong bonding rope has turned into a thin string holding on and ready to be cut
EasyWalsh: Metaphor
EasyWalsh: Whatever
CVernon: I have an idea on what you might be saying, but Im not sure if its right. Cant you just tell me and then we try to work it out?
EasyWalsh: You figure it out
CVernon: Im sorry, I dont know. what do you want me to do?
EasyWalsh: What do u think rope and string means
CVernon: Us?
EasyWalsh: No
CVernon: What?
EasyWalsh: Its how much I love you
CVernon: oh.
CVernon: okay.
CVernon: i get it.
EasyWalsh: You get it?
CVernon: Yeah. I do.
EasyWalsh: Explain
CVernon: You... dont love me anymore?
EasyWalsh: No
CVernon: You... love me less?
EasyWalsh: yeah
EasyWalsh: Its like the sparks disappearing in me
CVernon: So what do you wanna do about it?
EasyWalsh: Certainly I want to douse it with gasoline and make a bigger fire
CVernon: What?
EasyWalsh: I'm still speaking in metaphors
CVernon: . . .
EasyWalsh: ???
CVernon: I'm sorry. what?
EasyWalsh: I'm gonna try to love you as much as before and multiply it exponentially
CVernon: Dont force yourself to do it.
CVernon: I understand. It happens.
EasyWalsh: I will. Theres still that little ember glowing in me
CVernon: Are you sure its love? Or is it just pity. 'Cause, you know, you cant really measure how much love you have for a person.
CVernon: And as much as I want to work this out, I still dont want you to be stuck here just cause of pity. I don't need your pitty.
EasyWalsh: It certainly isn't pity
EasyWalsh: Its just
EasyWalsh: It feels like you're so far away
CVernon: Im sorry.
EasyWalsh: And its like you don't need me
CVernon: I do.
CVernon: I do need you. What made you think otherwise?
EasyWalsh: Stuff.
EasyWalsh: Many things
CVernon: Like what?
CVernon: Why cant you just tell me? Ill never understand whats wrong unless you let me.
CVernon: And by not telling me, you're not letting me.
EasyWalsh: Well, Bob did get to me a little
EasyWalsh: When I see you with your friends it always seems like you're soo happy
EasyWalsh: Making me feel uneeded
EasyWalsh: I see you "two" most of the time
EasyWalsh: Not just see
EasyWalsh: Hear too
EasyWalsh: And crap
EasyWalsh: Its like I have an inferiority complex
EasyWalsh: I feel so insignificant to you
CVernon: No.
CVernon: Please, dont think that.
EasyWalsh: As I see it u can be twice happy when I'm not there
CVernon: You got me all wrong.
EasyWalsh: And when I approach it seems like you don't care at all
EasyWalsh: You're always busy
EasyWalsh: And crap
CVernon: Im so sorry.
EasyWalsh: So now I think you don't need the love I have to offer so it goes less and less
EasyWalsh: When I'm asleep i get dreams of you ignoring me
CVernon: No.
EasyWalsh: *sighing emoticon*
CVernon: Im sorry.
CVernon: I... I didnt think that you'd feel that way..
CVernon: I mean.
CVernon: You... with Drew and them, you look like you're fine. and like that you could just go on without me, so i just put on a strong front so people wouldn't think that im too needy.
EasyWalsh: When I'm with Drew
EasyWalsh: Sometimes, I want to go and crap
EasyWalsh: But Drew just wants to stay and "relax" at the table
EasyWalsh: I can't walk alone
EasyWalsh: So I stay with him
EasyWalsh: And Ryan can't really go with me cause Drew will just get him back
EasyWalsh: But when dismissal comes
EasyWalsh: I can't really approach you cause you're surrounded by I-C.
CVernon: Why didn't you tell me any earlier? I couldve.. done something.
EasyWalsh: Ialways think that telling would make things worse
CVernon: It wouldn;t.
CVernon: I never knew, I wish I could've been there with you.
EasyWalsh: Well you can't
EasyWalsh: You're always busy and your friends get you shackled
________________________________

Callie, at the moment, was not in any capacity to type any further. Her heart skipped a beat. Then two. The tears fell excessively. It made no sense, but for some reason she felt like it was her fault. So maybe Ana was right, she doesn't try hard enough. It all made sense. Callie tried to relax, and talk to Easy like she was okay, but her breathing wasn't doing any help. Easy didn't need to explain any further. Callie, honestly, was just waiting for him to break up with her. The moment he said the "metaphor", she knew. She readied herself. He didn't need any excuses. They didn't really need a set up where someone would ned up winning, and the other losing. Probably, the once true love has faded into a false lie?

Trick. No treat.

2009-01-07T10:31:00.004+08:00

"Hi, uhm, this is Maxie. Can I talk to Callie?"
It was Maxie. Wait, how did she get to call?

"Hey, Max. How'd you get my number?"
"Dr. Wanderman gave it to everyone who asked for it."
"Bitch."
"Well, anyway. I called to let you know some really both bogus and awesome news."
"Hit me."
"I'm moving to New York. Awesome, right?"
"Wait, you're out of PROMIS?"
"That's the bogus part, I ended my stay at PROMIS but I'm moving to Serenity Lake."
"No shit."
"Yes shit."
"So you're gonna be continuing your healing in Serenity Lake, eh?"
"Well yeah. Mr. & Mrs. Romano thought that I'd do good if you could visit me often."
"Yeah, but I'm going back to PROMIS once summer hits New York."
"That's the fun part. We can go back together. Awesome, right?"
"Really? Awesome."
"Yeah, but I don't know how I'm gonna get my pills and kegs through Serenity Lake security."
"You seriously have kegs?"
"I can dream. *laughs*"
"But I'm serious, any ideas how to get in the good stuff?"
"Max, I know you'd hate me if I said this, but can't you just heal yourself?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Drugs, alcohol, it's not good for you. You could die."
"Well, that's the plan anyway."
"Maxie Romano, can't you just live on sober? Stop getting high? Your parents--"
"Georgina's parents. They aren't my parents."
"Fine. Georgina's parents pay a lot for you to go to rehab, you owe them your life... kinda. But, can't you show any progression?"
"Callie, Callie, Callie. I don't owe them no shit. It's their fault I'm like this."
"I could help you, they are my relatives too, you know. I just can't 'cause you never told me your real saga. I don't know whats behind your infuriating behavior towards them."
"I didn't tell you because you didn't have to know. I told you, I like being high better than being sober. No family shit."
"What is this 'family shit' Max? Tell me."
"Stop acting like you arent a screw up, anorexic bitch."
"But I try to get out of it. You're anorexic too. You like getting stoned, and your liquor is your water. What the hell Maxie? You wanna kill yourself?"
"Yes. 'Nough said."
"Maxie, what are your reasons? Your parents can give you everything you want, legal of course, if you just show them you care. A wee bit. Is that so hard?"
"You can't even do that, bitch. *laughs*"
"I can, I do. Sometimes. But this isn't about me. It's about you. You're wasting yourself away."
"Like you aren't."
"Stop changing the topic."
"I'm not. We're both screwed, wasted, name it. It's us. What the hell Callie? So what? You're gonna be like them? Sober, all of you against me?"
"I'm not against you, Max."
"Stop acting like you're sober. Boo, you whore."

*beep beep beep beep...*

. . . . .

"Callie," a man's voice was all Callie heard. It kind of sounded like her dad, sort of. Wait, it was her dad. What was he doing here? "Dad?" Callie twisted on her chair to see if her assumption was right.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were going to Korea?"
"I left my wallet." He said, embarrassed. Callie bit her bottom lip to stop her laughter.
"Oh." She said, smirking. She turned around again and faced her laptop.
"Do you want to go shopping?" He asked, suggestively.
"Cool. Sure." Callie stood up immediately. The word 'shopping' made her hyper.
"On one condition," he said seriously.
"Yes, dad. I'll eat." Callie said innocently.
"No, not that." Uh-oh, Callie thought. If she wasn't going to eat, then this must be much much worse.
"You have to wear this blindfold," he handed Callie the blindfold and smiled, "until we reach the mall."
"Why?"
"I have a surprise for you."
"Whatever."

. . . . .

After a while that felt like eternity, the vehicle Callie was in finally pulled over. Someone helped her get out and walked her over to some place she didn't know. But there was one thing she did know, the silence and the cold fresh air of the area didn't seem to spell M-A-L-L. Callie was frustrated. Not only were her eyes starting to hurt from too much darkness, but her own father had just tricked her. Where was she anyway? An orphanage? A church? Boot Camp? In the middle of no where?

Callie felt someone pull her blindfold loose. Thank God. There was light. Callie found herself seated on a soft cushioned couch, in a well lit room. A nice calming scent filled the air, and everything was really pretty. Until she saw her old counselor in front of her. Callie's jaw dropped, her eyes rounded. She raised her eyebrows and let herself fall on the back cushion of the couch.
"What. The. Hell." It was more of a statement than a question. Callie was pissed off.
"Hello, Callie. Long time no see." Dr. Porter smiled.
Callie didn't answer. She kept still and silent.
"Nice to see you too." Dr. Porter said, smiling. Ooh. Looks like she's learning the beautiful art of sarcasm.
Callie kept silent. On her face was a blatant, plain and bored expression. Callie blinked.
"You'll be staying here for a while."
And then it hit her. Where was she?
"Wait. Where am I?" Callie finally spoke.
"Serenity Lake."
Callie wanted to laugh. Another rehab facility. Of course.
"What?" Callie chuckled.
"Serenity Lake. Maxie's here too." Dr. Porter stated.
"Cool." Callie's eyes lit up to that thought. Maxie. More time with Maxie.

. . . . .

I would honestly, really tell you everything that happened in full detail. But right now, I'm sorry to say that I'm not in the mood too. You know me, I'm lazy. So anyway, Mr. Vernon tricked Callie to going to a mall, when in fact she was really going to Serenity Lake. The facility Maxie's at. Callie spent Christmas Eve with her doctor, talking about how sick and screwed up she is. There was food. To be frank, it was good. Good food. But people in that center were going to end up being obese because of eating. Callie was forced to eat, being watched every time a tray of food was put in front of her. It was weird, actually. Everytime you don't eat, they put this major shit in you through this seriously painful injection. A huge injection, may I add. So it was either Eat or Cry for Callie. The shot was so that she'd eat... or maybe it was so that she didn't get dehydrated. Which ever of the two. The main point was it hurt.

________________________________

CVernon- I'm mobile.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

9:43, Christmas Eve.

CVernon: Merry Christmas. *smiling emoticon*
EasyWalsh: Yeah. Merry Christmas.
CVernon: So what's up?
EasyWalsh: Nothing. Christmas with the family at home.
EasyWalsh: I got new glasses.
CVernon: Good. Now you won't mistaken other girls for being me and end up hugging them.
EasyWalsh: Hey. What the hell?
EasyWalsh: Ok. So sometimes I mistaken other girls for being you, but I never hugged them.
CVernon: Of course you didn't. I was kidding. You would never do that, right?
EasyWalsh: Yeah. I wont. *shifts eyes*
CVernon: What's that supposed to mean?
EasyWalsh: I dunno with you.
CVernon: *straight face emoticon*
EasyWalsh: How about you? Where're you at this Christmas?
CVernon: With my counselor.
EasyWalsh: What? It's Christmas, aren't they off?
CVernon: I thought so, too. But I guess my dad paid some extra cash to lock me down.
EasyWalsh: Why are you there anyway?
CVernon: Well.
CVernon: There's a story behind that.
CVernon: My dad tricked me to going here. He said he was going to take me shopping if I wore the stupid blindfold. So I did. And after a while that felt like eternity, I opened my eyes to find myself in front of my counslor.
EasyWalsh: *laughing emoticon*
EasyWalsh: Damn.
CVernon: Yeah. Damnit.
________________________________

This is nothing, really.

2009-01-05T17:20:00.003+08:00

From: Callie Vernon
To: Brett Messerschmidt
_____________________

Back at NY, B. Currently @ Times Square. Watcha up to?
_____________________

From: Brett Messerschmidt
To: Callie Vernon

You're at NY, so soon? I thought you were going to stay in London for 7 days?
_____________________

From: Callie Vernon
To: Brett Messerschmidt

Yeah. Well, Dad's gonna have a meeting with some korean dude in Angolia. LMAO.
_____________________

From: Brett Messerschmidt
To: Callie Vernon

What? Lol. So tell me, how was London?
_____________________

From: Callie Vernon
To: Brett Messerschmidt

Fun. Kinda. Look, B. I'm running out of credits here, IM you tonight, kay?
_____________________

From: Brett Messerschmidt
To: Callie Vernon

Alright. ;)
_____________________

. . . . .

________________________________

BrettMesserschmidt: So how was London, C?
CVernon: Fun.
BrettMesserschmidt: That's all you can say?
CVernon: There's wi-fi in the bathroom? *laughing emoticon*
BrettMesserschmidt: What? No way. Cool.
CVernon: Uhm, I realized there are more people who are way screwed up compared to me?
BrettMesserschmidt: That's because you aren't screwed up. *laughing emoticon*
CVernon: The guys are hot, 'cept for the ones in the facility. *winking emoticon*
BrettMesserschmidt: Ditto, they ARE hot anyway.
CVernon: The girl are hot, and again, 'cept for the ones in the facility.
CVernon: The girls in the facility who have pro-thin EDs are uber skinny.
BrettMesserschmidt: Like you?
CVernon: Hey, I'm not thin. I'm not even thin. I want their bodies. *laughing emoticon*
CVernon: I kid. *big grin emoticon*
BrettMesserschmidt: You're crazy. *laughing emoticon*
CVernon: I wont tell you everything for now, I'll just post it up in the future, kay?
BrettMesserschmidt: Why not?
CVernon: 'Cause then you'd know everything, and you're not supposed to? *laughing emoticon*
BrettMesserschmidt: Evil. But that's cool, I could wait.
________________________________

Cut the Zen state of Repose.

2009-01-05T14:05:00.002+08:00

The next day, Callie awoke at the crack of dawn. She was more than surprised to see Dr. Wanderman in front of her, sitting at the edge of her bed. "Whoa, what the hell, doc?" Her heart still hammering from the exertion, Callie pushed herself up on her elbows, shook herself fully awake. "Callie, your father will be picking you up today at nine. Your stay here will be cut short. But your father informed us you will be back at March next year." Dr. Wanderman said in her calm, cool voice. "Huh? What? Why?" Callie's grown to love it in PROMIS. The luxury, Maxie, everything. Of course, Doug and his annoying sarcasm was an exception. "We will miss you too, Callie." Dr. Wanderman said. Damn, did this woman really think that Callie would miss her? She must be delusional.

"I'm going to be leaving today, Max." Callie informed Maxie during breakfast at the dining hall. Apparently, Callie was the last to know about her departure. "Yeah, I know. We all know." She said, not considering any eye contact with Callie, or anyone but the english muffin in front of her. Maxie stared at it with disgust, and pushed the tray aside. She settled for a single grape. That was her breakfast, and most likely the only thing she'd be having aside from her secret stash of drugs and laxatives. "It was nice to meet you, Callie." Jenny said as she came with her nurtionist beside her. They sat down on with them at the same table. Callie watched as Jenny was forced to eat. "I hope you come to visit sometime." Hannah said, rolling on her wheelchair. With her, too, was her nutritonist. Callie watched as Hannah and Jenny struggled eating.

"I won't miss you, Sober." It was Doug again.
"Good morning to you, too, Prince Paranoid." Callie shot back.
"Ooh, Sober's learning to fight back."
"Yeah, I couldn't have done it without you being such an ass." Callie said playfully with sarcasm in her tone.
"You owe me, Sober." Thankfully, Doug caught the menacingly sarcastic humor.
"Whatever. Good luck here, Doug." Callie said in a friendly manner.
Doug sat at the same table, picking at Maxie's food.
"Maxie, there you are!" Maxie's nutrionist, Ciara called out, rushing towards Maxie.
"Chill, Ciara. I ate." She said proudly.
"A grape." Doug intervened.
"Fuck you." Maxie said, shooting Doug with a sharp icy stare.
Ciara then did her job, forcing Maxie to eat, and pleading that Maxie hand over all the drugs she had.
"Good, you're eating." Farrah came in, Callie's nutrionistd, with a smile.
"I told you, I'm well." Callie said, proving that didn't need to be in PROMIS.
"Nu uh, you didn't eat dinner and lunch yesterday. You're sick." Maxie said, pulling Callie down with her.
"Shut up, Max." Callie said, jokingly.
"Sorry, Farrah. I forgot to eat." Callie said, innocently.
Jenny, Hannah and Doug looked at her silently for a moment, then bursted out laughing.
"Nice excuse, Sober. You forgot to eat." Doug said laughing, with the food still in his mouth. Gross.
"Yeah." Callie skipped his sarcasm and just laughed along.

"Hey, Karen!" Doug called out in the middle of his laughter. Karen wlaked towards them, with her nutitionist behind her carrying her food. Karen looked beautiful today, she was close to sobriety, Callie could tell. Karen smiled at Doug, and at last, smiled at Callie too.
"Hey, Doug." Karen smiled at all of them, and turned to face Callie.
"You're leaving? So soon?" She said with concern in her voice. "Hey, sorry for the other day by the way. I was just in a bad mood and didn't want to talk."
"Oh. Okay." Callie smiled with relief. Karen didn't hate her, she was just in a bad mood.
"Yeah, I'm leaving. I don't know why." she admitted.
"'Cause you ARE sober!" Doug said, his hands flying in the air.
"Shut up." Callie demanded.
"Sorry, Sober."
"The name's Callie, Doug." Doug calling Callie sober was kind of irritating.
"No, I wanna call you Sober, Sober." Doug played.

"Whatever."

. . . . .

"Dad? Why am I leaving? I'm supposed to be here for 7 days." Callie complained. Going home without a thing to do was the worst Callie could think of.
"I have a meeting with Mr. Kim San Yui in Angolia. No ones gonna bring you back to New York. Don't worry, you'll be going back dring the summer."
Callie didn't know how to feel. Happy to go back to rehab with Maxie and all of them. Wathing them recover was kind of nice, not because she was being sadist, but 'cause it was enlightening. And she learns stuff there, and I don't mean all the good stuff.
"Isn't Mr. Kim Whatever Korean?" Callie said, wondering why her father was going to meet at Korean in Angolia. Made no sense. Knowing that Mr. Kim's family, which Callie knew, lived in Korea.
"Yeah, but we have to meet with Mr. Kuai to talk about the ..." the next words Callie heard were bla bla bla. Like she'd care about whatever shit they were gonna talk about. "... so you have to go back to New York."
"Sure. Whatever." Callie smiled and stared out of the window. She watched Maxie, Doug, Jenny and Hannah wave goodbye. Not to mention, Dr. Wanderman with her farewell smile.

Group Gripes.

2009-01-04T16:54:00.004+08:00

"Remind me why we're going to group therapy," Callie challenged Maxie. It was her second day in rehab. So far she'd not participated in any suggested recovery therapy. Why was Maxie shlepping her to this one?
She directed her question to Maxie's back: Callie followed Georgina's sister up a steep trail to PROMIS's meditation garden.
"Group therapy is the best show in town," Maxie replied in a "you'll see" tone. "It's a total trip."
Half-credit. The trip was worthy. They'd climbed to the highest point on the grounds, and the view was amazing. It swept over rolling hills, the land of London itself, al the way out to the teal-blue ocean to the south.
That alone made the vibe completely different than on PROMIS's main campus, with its sculptured shrubs and matchy-matchy flower gardens. Up here was a Zen oasis. Wildflowers grew this way and that, sprinkled with thorny roses and Spanish lavender. Callie inhaled, filled her lungs with the combined aroma, sweet and strong.
Seven cushioned lawn chairs were arranged in a small circle under the shad of a fig tree, a little way where Callie stood. Tea service, with a plate of freshly baked cookies, sat on a silver serving cart off to the side.
Dr. Wanderman, whose springy auburn hair was tied back in a ponytail, sat cross-legged in one of the chairs.
Three other people were there too.
A reed-thin girl wearing a sour expression and heavy plaster casts on her legs caught Calie's eye immediately. How had she hiked up here? Then Callie noticed the wheelchair folded next to her. The girl looked away when she caught Callie staring a her.
A husky, scary-looking guy with close-set eyes and batwing eyebrows sat next to her. He gave Callie the once-over, scornfully.
Not feeling the love so far.
Then, a sweet-looking girl whose long brown hair was caught up in a side ponytail moved over to the guy, motioning that Maxie and Callie could sit next to each other. Ahse must have been sweating in that long-sleeved turtlenecked top, Callie thought.
Dr. Wanderman took a drag of her cigarette and consulted her watch. "Most of us are here. So let's get started. First, I want to welcome Callie to our group. She's new to PROMIS."
"Hi, Callie," the burly guy with the batwing eyebrows sneered. "We're honored by the presence of an actualy person who doesn't need help. We must be the most sober amongst the least sober therapy group now. Where's your entourage, anyway?"
Callie, who'd assumed group therapy might be a gentle place, shrunk back in her chair, but Maxie got in his face. "Cut the crap, Doug. If you can't handle Callie being here, how 'bout you leave?"
"How about the normal person takes off her dark glasses?" Doug mimicked Maxie. "She can see us, but we can't see her?"
Dr. Wanderman intervened. "Let's introduce ourselves and then we'll address any issues."
"Hi, I'm Jenny, a recovering anorexic. Welcome to PROMIS," the smiley girl piped up.
"Didn't you leave something out?" Doug said to Jenny.
"You're also a cutter. You freaking self-mutilate."
That's why she's in long sleeves, Callie instantly realized. She's ashamed. That must suck.
"Doug," Dr. Wanderman directed, "lose the sarcasm and introduce yourself."
"Whatever I'm Doug, and I'm here for--"
"Anger issues?" Callie couldn't help herself. "Paranoia?"
"Alcoholism," Doug grunted, folding his arms across his chest again. "And just because a person is paranoid doesn't mean he's not being watched."
Dr. Wanderman nodded to the girl with the casts covering her shins.
She was staring at the ground, her long dark bangs obscured her face. "My name is Hannah," she mumbled.
"My legs are not broken. The casts are to break my spirit."
Callie's hand flew to her mouth to cover the gasp. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Hannah's an exercise bulimic," Maxie explained without sarcasm. "The casts prevent her from running, swimming, or any kind of cardio, so she won't keep losing weight. It's like detox."
No, it's lik being chained to a chair--like a prisoner or slave. Callie pictured it like medieval torture. Torture, she reminded herself, that Hannah, or her family, paid a lot of money for.
"Cast therapy seems cruel," Dr. Wanderman interjected, "but as Hannah makes further strides in her recovery, they'll come off."
Further strides? You'd think a shrink would find a better word choice, Callie inwardly castigated the doctor.
"Rehab," Dr. Wanderman explained as if she were reading Callie's mind, "isn't about punishment. It's about healing. It's about hope and joy, and remembering who you used to be, before you got sick."
Callie scoped the circle. Except for Jenny, who seemed a little too chipper, not a lot of joy represented.
"There you are, Karen." Dr. Wanderman's attention turned to a girl who'd just climbed up the hill.
Karen? Lake girl Karen?
Callie twisted around. Indeed it was she, rocking the same black shirt, faded jeans, and --when he caught the sight of Callie--scornful expression as she had a while ago.
"Sorry," she mumbled, grabbing the last seat, inching it outside the circle.
Callie wondered why Maxie had't mentioned Karen being part of the group.
Dr. Wanderman made the introductions. Karen, just as Maxie had said, admitted she was here to treat her anorexia, and her drug dependency.
As if they'd been cued, all eyes turned to Callie. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead.
"So what's your addiction, sober?" Doug challenged.
"Besides not needing to be here."
A mirthful laugh escaped. "Believe me, I am so not here 'cause I want to. I was freaking forced here."
"I'll just bet," Doug mumbled, twisting in his hair. "You have an addiction. It's obvious. Look at yourself. Drugs, maybe?"
"Do you have so-called low self-esteem, like the rest of us?" This from Hannah, who'd finally looked up, pinning Callie with a hopeful stare.
Callie swallowed. When Maxie had said group therapy was the "best show in town", she'd sort of assumed she'd be a spectator. Not a participant.
"Were you dragged to PROMIS, like me?" Hannah again, searching Callie's face pleadingly.
More like pushed, she thought bitterly. Not that she'd admit the blackmail and betrayal to these strangers--ever.
Maxie, intuiting Callie's discomfort, broke in. "Listen guys, I kind of convinced Callie to come to group therapy today. I'll speak for her. She's like you, Jenny. A recovering anorexic. But she was pushed here 'cause they thought she does coke. Maybe we can cut the home version of 'Guess My Addiction' now."
Dr. Wanderman agreed with Maxie, but Jenny and Hannah put in one more try.
"Are you here because you starve yourself too much like me?" Jenny guessed.
"You're a substance abuser," Hannah decided.
"Are you high now?" Karen leaned forward in her chair.
Taken aback by the accusatory tone, Callie retorted, "Of course not!" Unless she had X-ray vision, she assured herself, she was sitting too far away to see the effects of today's dose of painkiller, even thought she'd complied and removed the shades.
"I sense resentment directed at Callie," Dr. Wanderman said. "It isn't helpful to her--or to any of you. Let's do a regular meeting. Hannah, would you like to go first?"
A regular meeting, Callie quickly found out, was basically a chat fest. Each person gets to talk about whatever's on his or her mind. The hope being that therapy patients can relate to one another, commiserate, empathize, and eventually find strength to overcome their addictions.
"What are you feeling right now?" Dr. Wanderman prompted Hannah.
"Like a prisoner being tortured. I can't move, and they try and force me to eat," Hannah's voice trembled. "I'll be an elephant by the time I leave here."
"You understand that's not rational," Dr. Wanderman said warmly. "You have an illness, and you're here to understand the reasons behind your self-destructive behavior and get better."
"What is exercise bulimia, anyway?" Callie heard herself ask.
Hannah wrapped her birdlike arms around herself, but didn't answer.
"Oh, go on, tell her," Doug goaded. "Maybe she'll tell you about how sane she is, and how whacked out you are."
Could this guy be any more obnoxious? Callie stared daggers at him. Hannah decided to answer. "It's not as bad as anorexia," she said, turning to Jenny and then Callie, "and it's not really bulimia. It's not even an eating disorder."
"Yes, it is," challenged Jenny. "That's why you're here."
"I eat! I just keep track of how many calories I take in and try to burn off at least that amount by running or swimming, or by using the elliptical machine or treadmill. It's not that big of a deal. It's cruel to do this to me," Hannah whimpered.
CAllie's heart clutched. The use of heavy plaster casts must have been a last resort.
"Sufferers use excercise as their form of purging," Dr. Wanderman explained. "They do it more and more, and it becomes their drug. They plan their lives around their workouts. And if they can't excercise, they experience withdrawal symptoms, depression and anxiety."
"I hope you get the casts off soon," was the best Callie could manage.
"Karen, would you like to go next?" Dr. Wanderman asked. "How are you doing?"
"Fine," she said, tipping the chair back now. "I made it through detox, and I'm actually eating. Now I'm just... going from day to day, I guess."
"Are you going to NA meeting?" she asked.
"Not yet. I will," he said, not very convincingly.
Callie was dying to ask Maxie what Karen's exact saga was. She didn't sound like a rage-aholic. Not compared to Doug, anyway.
the biggest shock came when Doug talked. He'd spoken to his mother earlier and the conversation left him fuming. "You know what the bitch said to me? She goes, 'It's not my fault you drink, I treated you like a human being, not the evolutionary mishap you are.'"
For the second time in an hour, Callie tried to cover her gasp. She refused to believe any parent would talk to her child--her son--like that. It couldn't be real. Even if Dr. Wanderman treated it seriously.
"Doug, you know she's toxic, a sick woman. She took it out on you. You don't need to take it out on you," the doctor reminded him.
Most likely embarrassed by his humiliating admission, Doug turned his fury on Callie. "Okay, Sober. We've shown ours. It's on you now. What is your real trauma?"
"Anorexia." Callie mumbled. "But I'm close to well now. I'm sorry," Callie said softly. "I just don't think I belong here."

After group, Maxie suggested that Callie got back to her room and did some stuff while she had a meeting with the psychiatrist. "I know we don't know each other very well, and you like to joke around--but what's your saga, really?"
"My saga? You mean, why do I drink and self-medicate? Why am I here?" Maxie said with a sly grin.
Callie asked, "Have you done detox?"
"No. But that's because I don't want to detox. Being high feels better than being sober, that's all. Being high means I don't have to deal with all the family crap. I can be a frail little failure. It's easier."
Maxie didn't give Callie chance to ask what, exactly, she'd failed at. Georgina's little sis did a sharp convo U-turn, describing the amazing mani-pedis offered at the spa. "After your massage, you should treat yourself," she said. "It's all paid for, anyway."
"Speaking of paid for, how can our foster kid, Karen, afford to be here?" Callie suddenly wondered.
"Sugar Daddy," Maxie said before heading off to see her personal masseuse. "Rich boyfriend. Much older."
That gave Callie food for thought during the most luxurious massage she'd experienced: warm sheets, heated neck-roll, aromatherapy candles, calming new age music, and the expert fingers of Thierry working on every muscle in her back, shoulders, arms, legs, and feet. Combined with the effect of vodka, Callie was soon too blissed out to think about anything at all.

A soul stoned sister, and a long lost cousin... kind of.

2009-01-04T11:36:00.003+08:00

"I'm guessing Georgina forgot to mention that her twin sister is Chinese. Adopted, obviously. Georgie loves messing with people." Maxie's eyes twinkled mischievously.
"She did say you... you.. come here often. Kinda." Callie stuttered lamely.
Thankfully, Maxie laughed. "Got that right. This makes my fourth trip here."
"Does that mean the cure rate isn't very high?" Callie postulated.
"Not necessarily. I like it here: It's a retreat from the hard, cold world."
Huh? If she was Georgina's sister, she was the daughter of some god damn wealthy people--Callie never got to see them much 'cause they were always out on business trips and whatever stuff like that. They do travel a lot, that's for sure. Maxie probably lived in a mansion staffed with servants, same as Georgina did, had freedom, friends, and unlimited fund to squander and enjoy. Callie was having trouble picturing the "hard, cold world" part.
"Want the grand tour of your new home away from home?" Maxie offered.
With a glance back over her shoulder--Anorexic-by-the-Lake gave no signal she'd heard the conversation-- Callie followed her. Maxine. Maxie.

Back on the main campus, Maxie pointed out what Callie had missed, the craftily camouflaged security cameras posted in the trees, shrubs, and lampposts. "Big therapist is always watching." she warned.
The girls walked around to the other side of the villas, which looked like a picture postcard of a plush resort, including tennis courts, a fitness center and spa in their own architecturally awesome building. The hundreds of acres PROMIS owned also housed horse stables, a yoga studio, and, at its highest point, a meditation garden.
They circled the sparkling blue lap pool, ringed by cushioned chaise lounges, tables, sun umbrellas, and private cabanas with flowing white gauze curtains around them.
"The cabanas are where the hookups happen," Maxie informed her. "But there's no hanky-panky in the pool--it's staffed with two lifeguards. No one's drowning on their watch," she said. "And the villas, for residents like us--none taller than two stories. Makes it hard for the jumpers to get the job done."
"Drowning? Jumpers?" Had Callie heard that correctly?
"Suicides. Bad for business," Maxie said glibly. "We've got a lot of depressed guests here."
"That girl, Karen? By the lake. She's there without supervision."
Maxie laughed. "The lake isn't very deep, and spy cameras are everywhere. Besides, Karen Williams is not a flight risk. Nor is she about to off herself."
Callie considered. "You called her a rage-aholic. Isn't rage just depression turned outward?"
"Ooh, cousie knows her mental cases." Maxie gave her an approving nod. "Color me impressed."
"Don't be. Georgina took psych in high school to get out of calculus. She's pretty smart, and she talks a lot. Hardly makes me an expert."
"You will be when you leave here," Maxie snickered.
"PROMIS is a jar of mixed nuts, raw and organic, salty, roasted and totally toasted."
Ha! Maxie sounded totally normal. Funny, friendly, seemingly sober, cute in a goth way. She didn't seem nuts at all. Maybe it's true that she just likes living here, and her parents can easily afford it, and allow it.
"So where are you, Villa Primrose?" she asked, heading toward the residences.
"How'd you know?"
"That's where the special patients go. Not as in shortbus special," she amended, "as in 'sober for now' people."

When they entered the villa, Callie stopped halfway down the hallway. A pitifully thin woman was sitting on the floor, clinging to the plush terrycloth bathrobe she'd wrapped around herself. She was shivering and sweating at the same time. She looked familiar, but Callie couldn't place her. She was, however, caught by this woman's eyes: They were truly haunted.
"Shouldn't we call a nurse?" Callie called to Maxie, who'd not broken stride.
Maxie flipped around and tilted her head sympathetically. "Oh, that's Sherry, she's really not supposed to be here. There's a different wing for guests who are detoxing. I guess Sherry wandered back home."
"Should we get someone to escort her back?" Callie felt so horrible for this Sherry person.
"No, just leave her, poor thing. Being here is probably comforting, and she needs that as much as the detox drugs," Maxie continued down the hallway.
"I thought detoxing meant they gave you substitute drugs," Callie said, catching up with Maxie, "so you don't have to go through the shakes, like she is."
"Depends what you're detoxing from," Maxie said knowledgeably.
As Callie led Maxie into her posh quarters, she was about to ask how long detox lasted, why Sherry looked familiar, and why the woman thought of Villa Primrose as home.
Only Georgina's sister was occupied. So Callie's first question was, "What are you doing?"
Maxie'd moved the nightstand about a foot away from the bed, and was now sitting cross-legged on the floor, squished between the bed and table. In answer to Callie's inquiry, Maxie pointed at the light fixture in the corner of the ceiling.
"There are cameras here, too?" Callie was now officially skeeved out.
"Most suicides happen in patient's rooms. You need to know how to adjustthe angle or where the blind spots are."
No need to ask why Maxie was evading the spy-cam. She reached into a small pocket sewn into the side of her top and withdrew two little white pills.
"Whoa," Callie's eyes lit up. "Is that what I think it is?"
"I don't usually share my toys," she said wickedly, "but I'll make you and exception for a cousin of mine." She paused. "Only if you want, that is."
"Wait, I'm lost. What is it? Xanax? Vidocin? Sleeping pills?" Callie asked hesitantly.
"You wanted Xanax? Or Vidocin? Sure. I'll get some some other day. But mind you, sleeping pills suck." Maxie said expertly, popping the pill in her mouth. She still hadn't answered Callie's question.
"So.. what is it?" Callie asked impatiently, feeling a little out of place.
"Sweetie, it's harmless. Just a little 'laxafrenzies'. If you know what I mean." Laxafrenzies? What the hell?
"Laxafrenzies?" Callie asked, feeling downright stupid.
"I'm anorexic, too, you know. Only difference between you and me is you're just anorexic, I doubt you take laxatives. While I, I take laxatives, and a whole lot of varieties of druggies."
Callie forced herself to keep her mouth from falling open. She's never taken laxatives before. Well, maybe once, or twice. But Maxie looked like she'd been taking them like vitamins. No wonder she was so small, and skinny.
"How'd you get that?" Callie whispered, positioning herself near Maxie.
"Ah, if I told you, that'd make you complicit. We don't want our innocent little lass to know too much, do we?"
Is she mocking me? Do I care? Not as long as ther's more where that came from, Callie concluded.
"What about screnings?" Callie suddenly wondered, as she took the pill quickly. A little bit of lax wouldn't hurt, would it? It's just once. She wouldn't do it again.
"PROMIS won't bother you: you're too innocent. As for me? What are they going to do, make me stay longer?"
They both laughed. In that instant, Callie felt a weight lift, and it wasnt just the pill.
"So wait, you're saying that innocent people are really treated differently here? They don't have to submit to drug tests?"
"That's exactly what I'm sayin, cous." Maxie quipped.
"The likes of you don't have to do anything you don't want to. No recovery work necessary. If you want, you can take a pass on all that stuff on your schedule. You probably wouldn't want to miss out on the manicures, massages, and gourmet meals though. They rock."
Was Maxie for real? If so, wasn't that kind of... defeating the purpose? Deciding to take Macie at her word, Callie curled up inthe comfy club chair. Maxie, meanwhile, no longer having to hide from the camrea, plopped on the bed, and proceeded to give Callie a tutorial in Rehab 101.
She knew all the rules: No drugs, no liquor, no contact with the outside world for the whole stay, no leaving premises, no sex.
She also knew how to break every one.
"It's like an exclusive private highschool, cliques and all,"
she said later on. "The popular crowd, the jocks, braniacs, geeks, drama nerds, therapist suck-ups. the only difference is everyone's certifiable here."
"Who gets to be prom king and queen?" Callie giggled.
"The excercise bulimics are at the top rung of the ladder, because they're multitasking loonies. then come all the other eating disorder types and the sex addicts. Alcoholics are the charmers, the druggies are into soliloquies, they'll talk you ear off. Depressives and rage-aholics, like your new friend Karen, are so dime a dozen, they're near the bottom of the popularity ladder. The suicidals are in their own category."
"That detoxer, Sherry, what's she?" Callie asked.
"A hopeless burnout. In high school, she'd have a big L on her forehead for Loser."
"What are you?" Callie was fascinated.
"A rebel."
"Who's in your clique?"
"Just me. So far." She eyed Callie... hopefully?
Callie's smile lit up the room. She'd made her first friend, and met her fellow screw up cousin. But.. a little more screwed up than she'd imagine.

A day at Pre-hab.

2009-01-03T23:08:00.002+08:00

As recurring dreams go, hers was not that bad, Callie told herself, as she woke, anxious and sweaty after her first night in rehab. Not that she'd had this one in a long time. It took a few minutes to shake off the unsettling mood the dream always left her in, to force herself into consciousness. The readout on the Bose alarm clock/radio said 6:00 A.M.; gentle strains of new-age music were being piped into her room. Must be the daily "wake up" call. Rehab reveille.

She turned to gaze at the first pink rays of dawn filtering through the gauzy curtains, defusing mistily across her nightstand.
Callie considered her options. She could pick her head up off the fluffy down pillows, rouse herself from the heavenly king-size bed, and officially start her rehab sentence. Or not.
Before she'd left Dr. Wanderman's office yesterday, she'd been given a daily schedule, which she tossed on the night table. Now, she reached out to consult it. She was supposed to take a daily meditative walk around the lake at six thirty AM.
What did she have to meditate about? Spending seven days here? Her brain would curl up into a fetal position and shut off.
She turned over, put the pillows over her head, and went back to sleep. The next thing she heard was an annoying, persistent knock on the door.
Ignoring it was not helpful. A key turned, followed by the unmistakable sound of someone entering the room. Instantly, Callie was overcame by the mouth-watering aroma of freshly brewed coffee and just-baked bread.
"Time to rise and shine, sleepyhead," chirped a crisply dressed staffer, palming a food-filled tray. "I'm Farrah, and I'll be your nutrition counselor during your stay here. since you didn't make it to the dining room, I brought breakfast to you."
"Go away, I'm not hungry." Callie wished she could drum up a pouty grouse, but her stomach had other plans. It growled. She settled for sarcasm. "Is breakfast in bed something all the inmates get?"
"Only the special ones." Farrah said with a wink, placing the tray on the nightstand. "But it's really more fun to eat in the dining room with your fellow inmates. Try it later, and we'll go over your customized meal plan."
Before Farrah was out the door, the corners of Callie's mouth were flecked with croissant crumbs. She speared a chunk of fresh cantaloupe, well on her way to devouring the entire fresh fruit salad and carafe of coffee.
If that was a ruse to get her out of bed, she thought, score one for their side.
She headed for the shower. The sumptuous spa-bathroom was pretty awesom, decorated in soothing shades of blue marble and tile. Heated floors, even. She'd seen bathrooms with Jacuzzis before--had even frolicked in a couple--but the sic showerheads, aiming water at all body parts, was a first.
As a normal person, Callie couldn't personally afford this kind of luxury. She made a mental note: after being a millionair? She was so hiring a decorator to copy this bathroom. Not just for herself. In Mr. Right's new house, which so far existed only in her imagination, there'd be another just like it.
A plunging sadness gripped her. She was banned from calling home, or any other place. She wouldn't know what Brett and Raven would be up to. Or how Easy was doing. Rehab, Callie concluded, was worse than jail. Being incarcerated, she'd be able to talk to her friends on a phone through a glass partition.
She dabbed her tears with a huge Egyptian cotton towel. She'd stock up on these in her fantasy bathroom too. She'd considered going back to bed, but by this time, was not the least bit tired.
She could start a journal--not that she didn't have that at home, or on her laptop. PROMIS suggested journaling as a way to get her real feelings out.
What would she write? That she needed a Xanax, she'd like to watch some TV-- and by the way: She wanted to OUT of here. Callie knew that already, didn't need to write it down.

Her eyes fell on the sad-looking duffel bag she'd stashed by the walk-in closet. Inmates... that is, guests... were allowed to bring one small item of luggage. It was supposed to hold everything you'd need for recovery. She turned to the PROMIS guest schedule. Every hour of every day was accounted for. After the meditative walk around the lake at dawn, her choiced included swimming, hiking, group therapy, crafting, tennis, equine therapy, yoga and recovery work. It read like a really expensice summer camp for addicts.
Callie was not an addict; all that is left to recover from was her incy wincy little bitch friend Ana. She tossed the schedule on the plushy carpeted floor. She felt jittery, so she decided to leave her gidled cage of a room. She peeked out the sliding doors, which opened onto a patio, facing the main grounds.
She withdrew a pair of loose fitting cargoes, a shapeless black top, and pink sequined Jimmy Choo ballet shoes, caught her hair up in a claw clip, and pu on a pair of trendy oversize sunglasses those nice people at D&G had given to her and Catherine for attending their party.
She checked that mrror: Mary-Kate on a Starbucks run stared back at her, Except without the huge bag and latte.
Callie slipped outside, instinctively scoping the area. She wandered aimlessly, ending up on a flagstone path of least resistance. It took her by the villas, a dozen or so, identical to hers. Each was two stories tall, had arched windows, patios, or Juliet balconies and orangey-red Spanish-tile roofs. They formed a horseshoe shape around the main grounds, or campus, as it was cheerily referred to.
The grounds did remind her of St. Lucius, and a lush, green country club without gold carts or a bar. The huge grassy uber-landscaped quadrangle was covered with a manicured lawn, sculpted shrubs, and colorful flower gardens. The quad was dotted with shady palm, citrus, and oak trees, under which various rehabbers were reading, meditating, muching, doing yoga, chatting.
Joining any of them was beyond Callie's current capacity. She stuck to the path, skirted te perimeter. with each step, she felt smaller, invisibled almost, sorry for herself. In a lame attempt to cheer herself up, she tried to scope out someone that she may know, but she recognized no one.
A clutch of people sitting cross-legged in a circle caught her eye--not because there was someone she knew among them, just that they were young, toned, good-looking. Another pang of loneliness socked her in the gut like a speeding fastball.
Callie loved being alone. But she didn't know why she didn't quite appreciate it now. She plowed on, oblivious to where she was headed, remembering the Holiday Mixer with Easy. That vision did little to console Callie. Georgina's reaction had surprised her. She promised Callie that the whole thing would be like cakewalk--except starving yourself wasn't allowed. Something about her matter-of-factness made Callie quiz her about her vast knowledge of rehab.
That's when G let loose a stunner. She'd been to PROMIS many times--as a visitor. Turned out Georgina had a sister (and Callie never knew). A twin sister, to be precise. Maxie was her name, and she was currently on her fourth stint at PROMIS.
"Why?" would have been the obvious question. But the ones that came out of Callie's were. "You have a twin? And I had another cousin? And I didn't know? Why?"

Callie's walk was taking her away from the main campus. She found herself wondering if she'd recognize Georgina's twin sister. Had the noticed anyone tall, slim --gorgeous, maybe?-- with Georgina's casual, composed posture. She actively watched for a Georgina with light brown hair, sparkling blue eyes--completely whacked out. She realized that lots of guests actually fir that description. Had she walked right by Georgina's trippy sister without realizing it?
Callie continued to follow the path. The farther away from campus it got, the more isolated she felt. Furtively, she wondered if she'd stumble across and exit--and escape! As if.
Her path ed, instead, to an area dense with trees. In spots, their branches and leaves formed canopies, which was kinda pretty. something else she noted: The father away from campus she got, the less precious the environment, and the fresher the air.
Made sense. The fresh air reminded her of how opposite this place was from home, leading to another pang of sadness. The part of New York Callie and her family called home was actually a suburb, set directly on the Pudget Sound.
Ruefully, she realized she'd been in London for so short, yet she had nearly forgotten what dirty, not so pristine air smelled like.
She didn't see or hear anything at first, but Callie sensed she was approaching a body of water. Had to be the lake, she realized-- PROMIS had a lake. She hiked through a patch of wildflowers, made her way up a rise. At the crest, she peered down, and there it was.
It was serene, all right. Calm, quiet, except for the easy breezes and chirping birds, peaceful. Perfect for those early morning meditative walks.
Callie felt lonelier than ever.
Just as she turned to leave, out of the corner of her eye she noticed a familiar pattern in the water: concentric circles rippling on the lake's surface. Like someone had tossed a stone skittering across the water.
Someone had.
The tiny girl was on her haunches, just by the shore. Quietly, Callie watched her continue to send pebbles skimmering.
Intruiged, Callie snuck a little closer and observed: She had thick, long wavy hair, slender and slim body. She was wearing a pair of dark acid washed ripped jeans, knee high boots, and a rumpled short sleeved black shirt.
The girl was alone. Forlorn, maybe? Like her? What were the chances?
Cautiously, Callie edged down the grass toward her. She sent more pebbles flying; she did not turn around. Callie came up behind her and deliberately coughed to make her presence known.
Still no reaction. Was she hard of hearing? Or in some rehab-related Zen state of repose?
"Hi," Callie said soflty, tapping her shoulder. It was fragile, tense to the touch. Callie was afraid she might have broken it.
The girl twistes around: Her breath caught. Callie'd never seen anyone with eye that color, or colourless, before. They were wold pale eyes, rimmed with long, thick charcoal lashes. Her light-brown wavy hair fell forward, covering half her face. Her lips were set in a tight, straight line. Unsmiling. Unfriendly.
Callie removed her sunglasses and stumbled ahead. "I'm new here. I was just wandering, ended up at the lake..." She trailed off, realizing she was not even chipping away at her icy facade.
Au contraire: Her eyes flickered with defiance.
Smart move: Back away, Callie. Now. Who knows what kind of nutcase she is?
Move Callie made: "Want company?"
Her face hardened, but her voice soft and small. "No."
She kind of spat that out. Well, at least she was being honest, Callie thought. Guess we're not in Happyville anymore Toto, she said to herself.
The girl turned her back to Callie, who stood rooted on to the spot.

"Don't bother, she's out of your league, and not at all friendly." A sharp, sarcastic voice broke the standoff.
Callie jumped. She hadn't heard anyone coming. She spun around to find a petite, canny eyed Asian girl whose chopy black hair looked like she'd cut it herself with a butter knife. It was a look, granted. It meshed with her barbed wire tattoo choker, multiple studded leather wristbands, gobs of eyeliner, and black nail polish.
Not a PROMIS staffer, Callie concluded.
"How would you know what league I'm in?" Callie challenged.
"You're strictly minor league, like all the clueless non addicts who come here. She, on the other hand"--she pointed at the stone skiffer's back--"is a flimsy hard core former excercise bulimic, now just plain anorexic."
"She looks pretty harmless to me." Callie lied.
The girl laughed. "Karen's got that that 'do me, I'm senstive vibe,' but don't let it fool ya. She's also a rage-aholic junkie, and she's trouble."
"How do you know so much?" Callie asked.
"I make it my business to know other people's sagas," the girl said, matter-of-factly.
"What's yours?" Callie asked.
"Just your run-of-the-mill repeat offender. Substance abuse in all its glorious varieties." she said with a shrug.
"Were you following me?" It just then occured to Callie to ask.
"Following orders," she clarified. "My sister, Georgina, said to look after you."
A beat. Then two beats went by, Callie's mouth hung open. She stared stupidly, then blinked.
"I'm Maxie Romano."

Pre-hab.

2009-01-03T12:20:00.006+08:00

They tried to make me go to rehab, I said: No, no, no!

Elton drove Callie and her father to the airport with the windows rolled down. It was fifty eight degrees in New York. Busy people walking around, as usual. The only difference now is that there are more kids in Central Park who apparently aren't cutting class. Callie was wearing a sequined white tank top, a checkered black and white scarf and a pair of beige capris. She had her hair tied up to a lose half ponytail with a bandanna, her feet slid through her black and white Mary Janes, her wrists stacked up with huge golden bangles and her waist tied around by a parka. It was a comfortable, relaxed look. Callie figured it was a nice look to show people that she is sober, and not a crazy anorexic drug addict they think she is.

PROMIS. Yeah, that's it's name. It has other branches in Kent, and Paris. But Mr. Vernon chose London. He had a business meeting in London and thought that maybe getting his daughter sober all the way would be a great idea. It was from this center and its gloomy, omnipresent shade that Georgina had visited. But Callie wasn't sure if she visited a friend, or she was the one in need. It was in that center that Callie has been compelled to enter for so long now, as well as Serentiy Lake. But now, this is the year Callie would finally put her foot down; these past months, her dad, Mr. Vernon, came home for Christmas in New York instead. It was to PROMIS that Callie now exiled herself-- an action that she took with great horror. Callie detested rehab.

It's a seven-hour flight from New York to London, and then an hour drive down to PROMIS. Flying didn't bother Callie; the whole eight hours of travel with her dad, though, Callie was a little worried about. Mr. Vernon had really been fairly nice about the whole thing. He seemed genuinely pleased that I was going to re-enter the whole phase of sobriety for the first time with any degree of permanence. He'd already gotten Callie registered for a week's stay at the center. Yes, a whole week. Since Holiday break wasn't all that long, a little of a fortnight was just it. It was sure to be awkward with her dad. Neither of them were what anyone would call verbose, and Callie didn't know what there was to say regardless. Callie knew he was more than a little confused by her decision-- like any normal sane person, Callie hadn't made a secret of her distaste for rehab.

When they landed in London, it was raining. This Callie was expecting, too. "Here we are, Callie." he said, smiling automatically caught and steadied her. "Get well, alright? I'll be at my business meetings if you need me."
"Yeah, whatever." Callie said blandly. Callie only had a few bags. Most of her New York clothes were too permeable for London. They exchanged more comments on the weather, which was wet, and that was pretty much it for conversation. They stared out of the windows in silence. It was beautiful, of course Callie couldn't deny that. Everything was green: the trees, their trunks covered with moss, their branches hanging with a canopy of it, the ground covered with nice luscious green grass. Eventually they made it to PROMIS. Mr. Vernon dropped Callie off as he and whatever that guy's name is left to work.

. . . . .

"Tell me why you're here, Callie." Dr. Wanderman asked.
"They think I do drugs. And I admit, I'm a diagnosed anorexic."
It was the saturday after suck-a-rama thurday, and Callie found herself in a place she never could have imagined: the earthy-cozy, flowerfilled office of Dr. A. G. Wanderman, at the PROMIS Rehabilitation Center. The girl was anything but serene.
Dr. Wanderman, a small, perky woman with a halo of wild auburn hair, was the cheif psychiatrist. The head head-doctor, Callie thought bitterly.
"Who are 'they'?" she asked, leaning in a little closer.
"Everyone. People I trusted. My family. They forced me to come here and no one stood up for me." Callie's voice cracked suddenly.
Dr. Wanderman offered a tissue. "Stood up for you about what?"
"I don't need to be here! They all betrayed me."
"You signed yourself in," Dr. Wanderman pointed out, not unkindly.
"Under great distress! Duress. It's a total mistake." Callie said, blowing her nose.

As tears fell unbridled, Callie now faced Dr. Wanderman. She hadn't seen a way out. There was no way to go up against her 'handlers'. Her family had deserted her, agreeing with the advisors. Worst of all, her dad voted in favor of rehab. Callie felt like a pawn in some bigger game, a thing to be pushed around, used. Not a person.
"You are very angry," Dr. Wanderman commented, after listening to Callie's reactions.
"No shit," she retorted. "I'm in lockdown for a false reason. I'm a good person, a disciplined person. A few days ago, I was eating. I was actually eating. so how'd I'd end up alone, without a cellphone, Blackberyy, laptop, TV or even an iPod?" Those were the ruled sh'd been informed of upon check-in that morning. But Callie was able to sneak in her cellphone, and her laptop. Apparently, there was low secutiry.
"It's just for a while." the good doctor said. "In a week, you'll be able to do e-mail or texting for an hour a day."
Big friggin' deal, she thought sourly.
"It's not punishment," Dr. Wanderman continued, "even though I know how it feels like. to expedite recovery, it's crucial to isolate all our guests from outside influences--the people who've enabled you to get in overyour head-- so you can concentrate on your inner slef, the first step toward sobriety."
"I am sober! I don't need to be isolated." Callie groused, wishing she had a Xanax of Vidocin to mellow her out.
Dr. Wanderman flipped though a file, obviously Callie's.
"It says here a few months ago, you passed out. Was that from starving yourself?"
She must be referring to the time Catherine came home and Callie passed out. She needed to be brought to the ER s to be shot by something like and IV so she didn't get dehydrated, Callie concluded.
"No. I fel because I was having a headache. I ate that day, I ate a lot. I had a really bad headache. I hit the pavement and blacked out, but only for a moment." Calle lied. She didn't eat that day.
"But you have ben starving yourself, right? And then you lost consciousness," the doctor persisted.
"You say it like it's a bad thing," Callie complained, "or something that hasn't been captured by a million eople before. No one ever mentioned rehab to me-- not so until just recently. And suddenly, wham! They got me into it."
Dr. Wanderman pursed her lips. "So you were doing what you always do, only this time, you got coerced, forced, into coming here. Is that how you see it, Callie?"
"Exactly." Callie's tears had dried, crusted on her face, which she obstinately refused to wipe away. She was over this "intake" session; beyond readm to leave. To go home.
Not an option.
"I'd like to ask about your family history," Dr. Wanderman said.
"Go for it." Callie grumbled, squirming.
"Is there a history of addiction in your family?" she asked.
"Not that I know of. I mean, sure. My dad's a finance manager. He's addicted to working and having business trips. I have no siblings. And my cousins are addicted to being their perfectly normal selves and ruining my life."
Ignoring Callie's sarcasm, Dr. Wanderman continued.
"And your mom?"
"She works at the Bose Audio Systems place in Paris as a finance manager as well."
"Your parents are away from you?"
"Well, yeah."
Dr. Wanderman found this fact intruiging. Callie was hardly surprised to notice.
"Look," Callie said, before the inevitable drilling began," I know you think it's some big trauma. Guess what, it isn't. I've been doing just fine, better than fine. I can live alone, I'm used to--"
Callie broke off,unable to continue. For all of them, her whole family had bretayed her, hadn't they? Told her they've been worried about her, but Calie hadn't taken their concerns seriously insisting that they "just didn't understand" what it took to be her. At this point, they all believed rehab was in her best interest. Callie had tried to make them understand that this was all about not having the time to eat. They wouldn't listen. They said all they cared about was her health and well being. They questioned how much Callie cared about that.
Callie was full-out sobbing now.
Dr. Wanderman was sympathetic. "I can see why you believe yuo were manipulated into coming here, Callie. Frankly, I think you're lucky."
Frankly, my doc, I don't give a damn what you think. I am screwed.

amor omnia vincit.

2009-01-02T20:34:00.002+08:00

Amor Omnia Vincit
--including headaches. ;)

"Will you be hanging out with Easy tonight?" Raven asked Callie when they saw Easy Walsh enter the Gymnasium. Tonight St. Lucius will be holding their annual Holiday Mixer; and for tonight, they'll be hosting Mayday Parade and Houston Calls, and also some smaller bands. "I don't know." Callie answered plainly. She didn't know. She didn't have a problem with hanging with Easy or anything, but if Easy didn't have any plans, she didn't have a problem with that either. Give men their time to hang around with their boys, in the end, if they really want you, they'd come for you. "Seriously? I mean, it's the perfect time for you guys to get it on. You know, like, date." Raven said suggestively. "I'm not sure. I don't know." Callie paused. "If he has plans, sure. If not, that'd be okay as well." Callie said bluntly. "I don't know with you, Callie. You have a man and you ain't with him." Raven said, as if she were boasting. In a nice way, that is. "I'm single and I have an arranged dance with Zeke Bell and Mr. York." Raven added. Callie smiled and let out a sigh. Raven was right. But again, give the man all the time and space he'd need. Callie was okay with it, anyway.

The party is just getting started. The music's way up that you could feel the floor under you, it's seriously crowded and everyone was dancing. It was like a club, but without alcoholic drinks, strip poker and a game of I-Never or body shots. It was totally.... safe? "Come on, guys. Let's party!" Raven said loosely as she swayed her hips from side to side, accordingly to the beat of the music. "I don't dance." Tiffany said in poise. "I'm no good at it." Callie admitted. Brett, on the other hand, smiled and just danced lightly. "God damn, headache." Callie mumbled to herself. She slowly walked her way out of the crowd and up to the bleachers. But Brett, Raven and Tiffany seemed to have followed her. After a little of five minutes on the bleachers, Raven seemed to be a little restless. "Let's dance." She said suggesting that they went down. Brett and Tiffany followed her league. Callie, well, she preferred staying up on the bleachers. Callie sat on the edge of half wall, looking across the air, watching the lights flicker on and off. "Won't you come down?" Brett said, as she approached Callie. "Nope. I'm good up here." Callie smiled, trying to hide the pain she felt. "You sure?" Brett said, trying to be certain. "Yeah. It's... all good." Callie insisted that she stayed and Brett went down. "Well, okay then." Brett went down and joined Raven and Tiffany to the dancing. Callie sat down and closed her eyes, wishing the headache would go away. "Oh My God!" A bunch of girls screamed so loud the moment they saw Houston Calls get up on stage. "We love you Houston Calls!", another bunch of girls screamed. Callie watched them perform from afar. Going down and getting in that sea of people jumping around might cause her to pass out.

. . . . .

"Dad?" Callie stood up to go out. Her dad was calling. What now? "What? No, pick me up at ten. Please?" Callie said, insisting. Her dad just said he was picking her up at nine. He was always a kill joy. Not to mention a party pooper. "Ugh." Callie re-entered the Gymnasium. Houston Calls had finished performing and everyone was back to the dancing. Callie walked up the bleachers, looking for her seat. She excused her way through and sat down, massaging the sides of her temples. It was fifty-six degrees in New York, the sky a perfect dark, black, drizzled by the shining stars. Callie was wearing her gray cashmere sweater-- 3/4 sleeves, thick V-neck rims; she chose it knowing it would be cold. The loud beat music faded into the background, and all Callie could here was her pulse in her ears. She put her head in her hands.

"What's up?" Callie heard a low, familiar male voice speak. Callie put her head up and squinted her eyes to see who it was. Easy. Easy Walsh. He took a seat next to her and made himself comfortable. "Mmmm." Callie paused, as she tried to clear her throat. "Nothing much." She said with a throaty voice. "What?" He didn't hear her. The god damn music was so loud. "Nothing." Callie said as she tried to speak louder. He came closer, really close. Easy was wearing Drew's gray looking long sleeved sweater and his pair of Earl jeans. He had his I-don't-care-about-whatever-or-whoever's-shirt-I'm-wearing, laid back signature style. His arm was against Callie's, and even if she had her sweater on and he had his sweater on, Callie could still feel the heat of his skin seep in, giving her the creeps. Callie checked her phone frequently, trying to kill the deafening silence there was between them. Easy slowly worked his arm around her. Callie's eyes rounded, widened and expanded in any other way possible. She looked at the corner of her eye, wondering if this was real. He had his arm around her, it was real. For the history of the year and an almost quarter that they've been together, it was the very first time he did that. I see progression Mr. Walsh. Very well done. It was a little shocking, but velvet. Another long moment of silence, it seemed like it was never ending. But this time, it wasn't as uncomfortable. It was satisfying. Like, that, everything in the moment was enough. Words were not needed. "Callie," Easy said to Callie --the first of the nth time all throughout the period they've known each other. "Why do you look like you're about to cry?" Callie felt a spasm of panic as she stared at his wide, childlike eyes. How could she leave her loving, erratic, retarded Easy? Of course he had his friends, but still... "I just," Callie paused. "I just don't want to leave." Her voice was breaking. "Oh." He said as he coughed. "Well, life's like that."
"Yeah, I guess so. I'm used to it, kinda." Callielied. She'd always been a bad liar, but she'd been saying this lie so frequently lately that it sounded almost convincing now.
"Things, people. They come and go." Easy insisted. "We have to accept that. Even if that means losing the object of your affection."
But Callie saw the sacrifice and sullenness in his eyes behind the wise advise. "Yeah. And it sucks." Callie said, smiling. She tried to make the conversation not so serious and.. depressing. I love you, Easy, Callie thought. Easy hugged her tightly for a minute, and then swept down a light kiss on her cheek. Suddenly, Callie's headache was gone. Not to mention her drowsiness. Callie felt herself melting, right there and then, next to him, in his arms. she felt like melting like goo. Callie looked at him, her eyes dreamy like. She pursed her lips together and smiled. Easy smile back. Callie rested her head on his, and everything else fades to black. Curtains closed, ready for the next scene.

Truce and Consequence.

2008-12-29T20:57:00.005+08:00

"Really, we have to get going. We're more than fashionably late." Callie chastised herself, Brett and Raven. They'd been at Brett's house since noon, cramming to wrap the gifts, getting ready and yadda yadda yadda. "What time is it anyway?" Raven asked, as she attempted to get her hair up to a ponytail. But Brett and Callie swore they'd pull Raven's hair off if she dared to put her hair up. "It's... four freaking eighteen." Callie said as her eyes widened. "Shit." Brett and Callie said in unison. "Double time, double time." Brett said as she kicked the mess aside. "Esther!" Brett called out. "Do me a favor and clean this up for us."

"We're late. Really late. Later than the intentionally fashionably late Brandon Buchanan." Callie announced while they ran up the stairs. "At least we pull attention." Raven said jokingly. Callie and Brett giggled.

. . . . .

"Mr. Wilde!" Callie called Mr. Wilde from across the hall, exhausted. "Callie, What are you doing here?" He said jokingly. Callie smiled. "No, Mr. Wilde. What are you doing here? You said you weren't coming." Callie asked, happy that he came, but curious why he did. "I lost my date." He replied. They walked into the classroom. Callie recognized them all. Rifat looking really purple, Solomon looking dull, Julian in black, and Brandon in green. There was Zack with Cornette, and Kate looking unlikely dressed as the usual-- in a good way.

Callie, Raven and Brett were right about distributing their Christmas goodies, just like everyone else. It didn't take that long really, it took a little of ten minutes of their time. And once Raven and Brett were done, Callie tugged on Brett's shirt. "What?" Brett said, smiling. "Mind if you come with me?" Callie pleaded. She was going up to Celine. But she was scared Natasha, Isabel and the rest of Celine's so-called "friends" ( or more like army of skanks ) might attack her. "Celine?"
"Yeah."
"Alrighty."

As they went up to the third and a half floor, they came across Easy. Of course Callie noticed, that was the most obvious, but she intentionally pretended not to. She wasn't going to talk to him until the Holiday Mixer later today at six; mainly because she didn't know what she was supposed to say to him. Callie scanned the busy hall filled with people interacting, it wasn't really pleasant to the eye. They searched for Celine's jet black hair and ivory skin jumping around, but to their surprise they found Celine in a dress. Callie bit her bottom lip to keep in the giggles. Celine was wearing a dress with a fluffy pink ... what do you call that thing anyway? "She's wearing a dress." Brett stated, sounding like she was irritated, but about to laugh out loud. "I knooow." Callie said, smiling and fighting off a giggle. "Devin!" Callie yelled, calling the attention of her fourth grade classmate Devin Park. "'Sup?" He said. "Call out Celine, por favor." Callie requested. "Aayt." He nodded and called Celine.

Celine came out, walking slowly than ever. Her heels made tapping sounds on the floor, and her eyes seemed to be filled with... something. Probably she was scared that Callie would rip her head off or slap her cheeks. If she did, she got it wrong. Celine blinked a few times, her mouth in a pout that looked like her signature face of shame-- as Emily and Michelle would call it. "Don't worry I won't bite... or slap you.. or even touch you if you're thinking that." Callie said, trying to ease down the tension that seemed to be rising again. Celine blinked. Silence. "I just... came up to apologize.. for letting it come this far." Callie wasn't sorry for calling her a bitch, slut or whore. She didn't regret any of that. She was just sorry for letting the hiatus between them come this far, that's it. Hell no was she going to say sorry for calling her names. Celine kept quiet again. She blinked, but her lips pursed together, probably holding back a smile. "So... truce?" Callie said, lowering her voice. "What?" Celine said. "Truce?" Callie raised her voice a little. No one was going to hear her at the measure of the noise that surronded them. "Truce." Celine said, still blinking, but smiling. "Merry Christmas, Colista." Callie handed her the small peace offering and smiled faintly. "You suck." Celine said, smiling, as she hugged Callie. Damn. That meant things were okay now. Back to normal. "Whatever. I knew you'd say that." Callie said as she pulled away. They exchanged smiles and Callie just left. Brett was next to her, "She hugged you." Brett said. "Well.. yeah. I was shocked too. I mean, Damn. Natasha was looking badly I could feel her eyes melting holes into me." Callie said as they went down.

Looks like things are back to normal.. well.. almost. But I wonder if Callie could keep up, now that she has Celine back, and knowing Heath, since everything's all good he'd want to get the "group" back. But if that's going to happen, how on earth was Callie going to keep up with them and Raven? Not to mention Tiffany. Callie thought if she just did a wrong move, because from where she was standing, she sensed a rocky road ahead. But who cares? Enjoy the thrill of the bumpy road. Or not. Anyway, enough thinking. It's six, everyone's going out. Everything around them screamed : It's time to party. But as predicted, this one's going to be different. We don't really know if it meant different in a good way, or bad way. It was just going to be different, period.

Season's Thinkings.

2008-12-27T18:23:00.005+08:00

Ho ho ho. Merry Christmas. The lights are out, Christmas carols are everywhere and everyone else is off their ass to get busy with the season. So what's in? Mr. Vernon came home for Christmas a few days ago. Callie doesn't seem to mind or care about what the fuck her dad has to do here. She's been too busy Christmas shopping with Brett and Raven, and searching for an outfit for this year's Holiday Mixer. In short, she's been pretty occupied that she's forgotten about Natasha and her whores, Celine and... who is she with now anyway?, and the final exams of this semester.

"So do you guys have your New Year's resolution?" Mr. Dalton asked the class right before he let them out. It was last period of AP History, and the last few minutes before Callie could get home. "I'm going to try to study harder so I don't keep flunking Calc." Pete said. Callie smiled at that, she wasn't sure if he was joking or not. That's impossible. Calc is impossible. "I'm going to bridge some gaps." Callie said jokingly as she looked straight ahead at the poster the school paper people had posted. It said "Bridging Gaps", whatever that had to mean. They were encouraging students to submit literary pieces and article that are due to scanning for publication in the next issue. "What?" Pete asked. "I don't know." Callie said, trying to figure out what the hell did she just say and what in the whole damn world did Bridging Gaps mean.

Last week, Callie had been Christmas shopping for gifts. She recalled buying this fine silver bracelet that was supposedly to be for herself as a part of her outfit, but then she recalled this one incident. It was Christmas then too, fourth grade, when she and Celine had fought about something she couldn't remember. She remembered despite the fact that they were not in good terms, in really bad terms to be honest, she still gave her a gift. She couldn't recall why or how, all she remembers was what Tinsley had told Celine: "That's what real friends are like." Then Callie thought, she's been so caught up with everything else, that she had totally forgotten about whatever Celine did or not do, and whatever grudge she had held against her. What if she did it again? What if Callie gave Celine a gift as a peace offering as she got off her hig horse, hat in hand, waving her white flag? Callie was over it. She was over Celine acting like a complete .... Natasha-clone, and everything else with that. What if she could bring fourth grade back? It sounded impossible, but Callie set her mind to it. She didn't know if Brett would agree or disagree, but she really didn't care. It had nothing to do with Brett. It was between her and Celine.

________________________________

BrandonBuch: You're writing in for the paper?
CVernon: What?
BrandonBuch: Your stat. "Bridging Gaps"?
CVernon: Hell no. *laughing emoticon*
BrandonBuch: Then what?
CVernon: I think I'm going to end it with Celine.
BrandonBuch: What?
CVernon: I'm going to brige the gap. Get it?
BrandonBuch: You're really going to do that?
CVernon: It's worth a try.
CVernon: Just 'cause I built a bridge doesn't mean I'd use it. Right?
BrandonBuch: Well, then why build a bridge if you won't use it?
CVernon: I want to. *laughing emoticon*
________________________________

BrettMesserschmidt: Stat?
CVernon: I'm bridging gaps. *smiling emoticon*
BrettMesserschmidt: What?
CVernon: I'm going to the bridge the gap between me and Celine.
BrettMesserschmidt: You're serious?
CVernon: Yeah.
BrettMesserschmidt: Are you sure you're going to do that?
CVernon: No.
CVernon: Come on B, I've never been sure about anything anyway.
CVernon: And if you ask, Easy of course is an exception. *laughing emoticon*
________________________________

Talk about feeling bad.

2008-12-27T17:29:00.002+08:00

"Fuck, fuck, fuck." Callie practically yelled as she sat down. Brett wasn't eating again, neither was she. Harry was approaching with his smile. "Hi." He said, happily--as always. Silence No one spoke. Callie was pissed off. Brett seemed the same too, but Brett seemed to be pissed off 'cause Callie's pissed-off-ness was rubbing off on her, I think. Harry's smile turned into a frown. But his sweat just seemed to keep going like a fountain. "Anything wrong?" Harry asked, his eyes rounded, his mouth in a pout. "More like someone wrong." Callie said grumpily. And I guess you're thinking it's Celine again, but no. Callie's been ignoring, and deliberately not caring what the hell was Celine doing. Actually, Callie thought Celine was dead 'cause she barely saw her jumping around. "Celine?" Harry asked. And again, No. "Rifat." Brett answered. For some reason, Harry laughed his ass off. "Why the hell are you laughing?" Callie asked, clueless. Why was he laughing? What's funny? "You're pissed at Rifat." Harry still didn't stop laughing. His braces made his saliva spray out again. Gross. "Why the fuck are you laughing?" Callie said, even more pissed. "I'm sorry. What's with Rifat?" Harry said. Right before Callie could answer, she saw Heath, Drew and Ryan approaching. Harry saw them too, so he stood up and ran away. Silly Jumping Shrimp. "Why the sad face?" Heath asked Callie, but his eyes were on Harry. "Rifat." Callie answered like a five year old who got her teddy stolen by a mean old man. "What did she do?" Heath asked, taking a seat. So did Ryan and Drew. Easy wasn't there. They said Easy was taking a test in AP History. "She's calling me whore for stealing her Brandon." Callie would've laughed, if only she wasn't so annoyed. "Just like what you did to Celine." But I had a reason, Heath. Shut up, Callie said in her mind. "But Brandon doesn't even like her." Callie said, as if she ignored what Heath had said. "Celine wasn't doing anything." Heath said again. This got Callie even more pissed. She was talking about Rifat, not Celine. "She's just friendly. In fact she's the most friendly among all of us." Ryan added as he nodded his head. Fuck that. "You guys don't get my point." Callie said, looking at Heath, Ryan and Drew individually. Callie had a freaking reason. She just couldn't let it out 'cause either way it would be wrong to them. Because again, Celine was their fucking angel, and Callie was the bad one.

________________________________

CVernon: Brandon.
BrandonBuch: Yeah?
CVernon: I need your honest answer here, kay?
BrandonBuch: Okay.
CVernon: Was I wrong?
BrandonBuch: Where?
CVernon: When I judged Celine's actions?
BrandonBuch: Honest answer, right?
CVernon: Yeah.
BrandonBuch: No.
BrandonBuch: 'Cause you had every right to act that way.
BrandonBuch: Easy is your boyfriend, and you had every right to get jealous.
BrandonBuch: Most especially, with how Celine acts.
CVernon: Oh.
BrandonBuch: BUT
CVernon: ???
BrandonBuch: You should have tried talking it through first.
BrandonBuch: You should have tried talking to Easy, and Celine.
BrandonBuch: You should have tried to keep your temper.
BrandonBuch: But over all, you weren't wrong, though you could have done things that wouldn't have made it this big.
CVernon: Oh.
CVernon: Thanks.
CVernon: Could I like, explain my side on what you said?
BrandonBuch: Sure.
CVernon: I didn't talk to Easy about it. I was, if only he just sat down and not walk away.
CVernon: I didn't want to talk to Celine 'cause I was so pissed I could have slapped her.
CVernon: I've been keeping my temper for quite some time now, it just.. bursted out.
CVernon: Oh Well.
CVernon: You and Rifat don't seem to being too good right now.
BrandonBuch: You say it as if we were together.
CVernon: *laughing emoticon*
BrandonBuch: Damn.
BrandonBuch: I don't understand her, she's mad at me again.
________________________________

Let's get this clear. Or not.

2008-12-26T22:22:00.007+08:00

One minute, Callie was crying. And the next, she stopped going out with "the group." Thinking that Celine must have still been there, and the boys practically despised her. Of course that was what was going to happen. Callie fights off their little angel, and accuses their little innocent girl of being a whore, not to mention a lying slut. Callie had always had this feeling like everyone at the table both knowingly and unknowingly admired Celine. Screw that. Callie knew the boys were pissed at her, and her biggest concern was that she wasn't sure if Easy was still an exception to that. She didn't know if Easy hated her for accusing Celine as a said slut and whore. She didn't know what was running through his mind, and she wasn't liking that.

The past week had been rough, but it was kind of easy to bare. Plan: If the boys hate you, ignore them. But keep contact with Easy. Let the anger held at Celine just get out. And once it runs out, judge if the friendship's still worth fixing. That's it. Break it, or bridge gaps.

Without the boys, and Celine, Callie was left with Brett. But that wasn't really a problem. She always hung out with Brett. No biggie. But if Brett had to run away for some reason, that wouldn't be a problem either. Callie would just hang around in the classroom, go puke in the bathroom or just eat alone. That was easy. That's what the chapel was for.

. . . . .

"Hello, Harry." Callie smiled as the small boy approach. Ever since the Vgames incident, Callie hadn't been speaking to Harry for a while now. But now that it was only Brett and Callie, speaking to Harry was less of a fuss. "Hi!" Harry said as he jumped. Harry hadn't changed: Sweaty head, small, jumpy. He was like a shrimp. A jumping shrimp. Good, now he has a new name, Jumping Shrimp. The past week when "the group" had been reduced to all boys [ well, of course, not unless someone was gay ], Callie had been hanging out with Brett and Harry by the big fat pole right in front of the chapel. One thing that was disturbing about that place was that used to be Celine and Callie's "spot" fourth grade. It lasted til the little of 5th grade. But then they learned to share their special spot to their other group of friends. Well, for Callie that is. But who knows about Celine.

. . . . .

________________________________

EasyWalsh: Meet me tomorrow at the chapel. Lunch time.
CVernon: Why?
EasyWalsh: Just go.
CVernon: I'm not going to go if you don't tell me.
EasyWalsh: Then don't, your loss.
CVernon: Uhh. Could you at least give me a clue?
EasyWalsh: What do you think? We're just going to talk.
CVernon: About what?
EasyWalsh: Is it wrong to talk to you now?
CVernon: No. But still... What are we gonna talk about?
EasyWalsh: Stuff.
CVernon: Like?
EasyWalsh: Casual normal stuff.
CVernon: Fine. But how am I so sure you won't stand me up?
EasyWalsh: I won't. I'll be there.
CVernon: What if I don't go?
EasyWalsh: I'll still go. But if in the first 40 minutes you still aren't there. I'm leaving.
CVernon: Ok?
_______________________________

CVernon: OMFG.
BrandonBuch: What?
CVernon: I think...
BrandonBuch: Think what?
CVernon: Correct me if I'm wrong.
CVernon: I just have this feeling Easy's gonna break up with me tomorrow.
BrandonBuch: Huh?
BrandonBuch: Why?
CVernon: He wants me to meet him tomorrow at the chapel.
BrandonBuch: Why?
CVernon: To talk?
BrandonBuch: How did you say he'd break up with you? He just wants to talk to you at the chapel.
CVernon: I can feel it.
BrandonBuch: Feeler.
CVernon: You suck.
BrandonBuch: What if he doesnt you know.. <> with you?
CVernon: I don't know.
BrandonBuch: I think you're jumping to conclusions.
CVernon: Whatever. I don't like what I'm feeling right now.
BrandonBuch: Relax. Casual talk. Nothing bad.
CVernon: I guess I'd just have to ready myself for the worst.
________________________________

Dman_Gately: Heya.
CVernon: Hi Drew.
Dman_Gately: Whatsup?
CVernon: Nothing you should know.
________________________________

Julian_McCafferty: Callie?
CVernon: Ouie monsieur?
Julian_McCafferty: What's up with the stat?
CVernon: My stat?
Julian_McCafferty: Uhh yeah.
CVernon: Stuff.
Julian_McCafferty: Easy?
CVernon: Maybe.
Julian_McCafferty: Hey. What's with Brandon?
CVernon: What about him?
Julian_McCafferty: Did he tell you anything?
CVernon: About?
Julian_McCafferty: Stuff lately?
CVernon: Yeah.
Julian_McCafferty: What'd he say?
CVernon: You better go ask him. I don't think I'm in place to tell you that.
Julian_McCafferty: What's with you and him anyway?
CVernon: What's that supposed to mean?
Julian_McCafferty: You and him. You're so.. close?
CVernon: So? What's your point?
Julian_McCafferty: Nothing. It's just... weird.
CVernon: Why? Just because.. you know.. doesn't mean..
Julian_McCafferty: Yeah, I'm just curious.
CVernon: Oh. Okay.
________________________________

. . . . .

St. Lucius Chapel, 1:03 pm:

"He stood me up." Callie muttered as she glanced through the chapel's windows. Callie waited, for around ten minutes outside the chapel. She roamed around, waiting impatiently. He said he'd be here, Callie thought. Callie roamed around, walking around the chapel like a crazy lunatic. And then finally, she saw Easy sitting there, his head in his hands. Callie approached him, slowly she sat next to him. "So what are we supposed to talk about?" Callie asked breathily. Easy shrugged. So you made me come here to talk about nothing? You could break up with me now, I'm ready, Callie thought. Callie then realized, if he would break up with her, it would look like it was 'cause of Celine. Fuck. "The boys hate me, don't they?" Callie said just to break the ice. "No, they don't." Yeah right. Of course they don't. Sure thing, Easy. "They just don't understand why you hate Celine so much." Easy added. So that explains why they hate me, Callie thought.

. . . . .

Julian McCafferty and Solomon Uley were practically smirking when they saw Easy Walsh and Callie Vernon together-- alone. But why blame them? Easy and Callie are rarely alone, it'd be either they had Brett and Celine in between them, or the whole group themselves. Callie rolled her eyes at the two boys that seemed to be eyeing Easy trying to tell him something. Maybe Solomon could be a little less obvious when he points at people. "Are they still there?" Callie asked. After their "talk" by the St. Lucius chapel, she'd-- they'd decided that Callie apologize to the boys and try to clear things up. But apologizing to Celine Colista, not quite. Sure Easy says it'd be better if she'd call a truce with Celine, but Callie didn't want to. She wasn't sure if she could without holding back anymore hard feelings. "Most likely; it's too early for them to go up for class anyway." Easy said in return as they walked the St. Lucius Lobby. "I see Drew." Callie said as she pointed.

"Hey, Callie." The boys said one after another, souding a little surprised to see her there. "Hi." Callie smiled. "So you guys are cool?" Heath said, eyeing her and Easy. They were okay. They are okay. What was Heath talking about? Just because Callie got cussed out by the fact that... nevermind. "We never actually broke up you know... I guess.. there was just this sudden need of... space?" Callie said, not knowing what the hell was she talking about. "How about you and Celine?" Heath said back. Ryan, Easy and Drew were fooling around again. Nonetheless, they were always like that anyway. "I don't know. Not now." Callie said, shifting her eyes. "Or never." She muttered, hoping that Heath wouldn't here. "She didn't do anything." Heath heard her. Damnit. "Eh.. I dont know how the fuck am I going to say this. Could we just not talk about it now? How about some other time?" Callie offered, hoping that Heath and the rest of them would accept. Heath didn't say anything, he just shrugged.
All the boys ever talked about was.. boy stuff. Callie understood--some, but not all and fully. Callie could feel the boys were wondering why she didn't feel out of place or anything, Callie wondered the same. Maybe it was 'cause Easy was there, and that was enough. Or she just didn't mind being surrounded by boys, 'cause she knew them. Or, she was lesbian. Damn, erase that last part. Ehk.

It starts to rise to its boiling point.

2008-12-26T12:04:00.005+08:00

"Hey Cal, Georgie's on the phone." Catherine handed over her phone to Callie. Callie took the call weakly.

"Hey Callie! What's up?"

"Uh..I'm going down."

"What?"

"I said I was fine."

"Oh."

"Well, I got into Brown. But I was targeting for Yale."

"But you're in Brown. Who cares? It's still an Ivy."

"I know. Anyway, what do you think about Serenity Lake?"

"G, Isn't Serenity Lake like.. rehab?"

"Yeah. Well, think of it more as a vacation from all the stress and anxiety."

"Whatever."

"They offer equine therapy, great massages, and yoga."

"Sure."

"I've been there a couple of times, it's really nice."

"You've been to rehab?" Callie started to get interested since when did her perfect cousin Georgina go into rehab?

"I've visited. Can you give the phone back to Catherine?" Callie gave the phone back to Catherine .

Callie started to have a slight feeling that the most perfect among her perfect cousins wasn't so perfect after all. Probably she's been to rehab? But why? Has she been stoned? Has she done drinking? Has she an eating disorder? Was she a rage-aholic? What? Callie couldn't get it off her mind. This was oe chance she could say, "I'm not the only one fucked up". Well, it does kind of sound like Callie's being this bitch who's running on crab mentality, but hey, it's kind of getting lonely down here at the bottom.

. . . . .

"Is Callie there?" Celine was on the phone again.

"It's me."

"I am so annoyed."

"Why?"

"'Cause me and Easy were walking down to go home. You do know our houses are like really near, right?" Yeah, I know that Celine. So what?, Callie thought.

"Well, there. Some I-D class girls saw us and were like, 'Stealer' to me."

"What am i supposed to do about it, Stealer?" Callie meant it. Ever since Easy/Drew had told her that EasyWalsh[IM] liked Celine Colista, right there and then, the hiatus between Vernon and Colista had started to rise.

"You suck." Celine didn't get it. She thought Callie was joking. Callie wasn't joking. She was serious.

Easy wasn't online, so Callie had no one to let it out on. Great. She had to keep it to herself until she went whack. Clap clap clap. Launching: Self Destruction Mode.

. . . . .

"I can't take it off my mind, B." Callie confessed under the birch tree, their usual hangout spot before class. "Take what off?" Brett asked, as she meddled with her books. "Last night. I mean, I know I shouldn't just jump into conclusions but I can't help it. Call me paranoid but hey, don't I have a right? Just like how Easy gets jelly of Brandon? Before, that is." Callie looked horrible. Her eyes were bloodshot, her hair not fixed, and her lips chapped. "Well, don't do any sudden moves? I mean, wait, what are you talking about?" Brett said, laughing. "Celine and Easy being uncomfortably.. uhh.. together. Not together together but together." Callie explained. "Okay, so maybe Celine's like that to every guy, but.. it looks terrible, not only in my eye." Callie explained further. The words kept flowing. Word Vomit. "I don't want to, I know I shouldn't be doubting Easy. But sometimes I can't stop thinking about him kind of liking her, you know?" Callie was about to cry, but crying would just make her look more fucked up, so she decided to hold the tears. "I have this plan though." What the fuck was she saying? You don't have a plan, Callie. "What if they like sit together this recess, and me like, far away from Easy. I'd like to observe." Callie said."You think that'd work?" Brett asked. "I hope it does." Callie said wistfully.

. . . . .

"Easy, sit there." Callie ordered, as Easy, Heath, and Ryan came. "Why?" He asked. Most likely, he was about to sit next to Callie, but since Callie had that obnoxious "plan", he had not to. "Just sit there." Callie said, sounding a little pissed. "Don't sit there!" Callie said as she saw Heath about to sit on the seat she had reserved for Celine. She did the same with Ryan and whoever attempted to sit there. "What the hell, Callie? Why can't we sit there?" Heath asked, obviously about to lose his temper. Callie tried not to care, and tried to harden up. "You just can't sit there!" Callie almost screamed. Celine came, and everyone hushed up. "What's up?" She said in her happy voice. "Sit there." Callie said, glaring at Heath. "Don't sit." Heath contradicted. "Sit there." Callie said, this time looking at Celine telling her to sit. "Don't sit." Heath said, but he was too late. Celine was already seated. Callie kept silent, observing Celine and Easy's actions. But luck wasn't on her side, all of them were looking at her, probably wondering what was wrong. "I can't do this." Easy stood up and walked away. No, you can't do this to me. You have to stay, Easy. Callie felt like pleading, but she couldn't. God damn this cynical mind.

. . . . .

Callie was staring at the floor, while Brett was talking to Brandon. Brandon must have sensed Callie's unusual silence, so he broke the ice. "What's up with the long face?" He said, souding like a big brother. Then Callie remembered how she and Trixie used to laugh at him for sounding like Big Brother whenever he used the microphone. Ah, the good old days. "Hey, B?" Callie said, she felt her voice was about to break. "What would you think if a girl was doing these stuff to you?" Callie started demonstrating. She started to fake flirt, she sat next to him acting all flirtatiously and all smiley and happy. She did everything she thought and she saw that Celine did. That's how she understood it. That's how whacked out she was. That's how she felt, she felt in rage, she was pissed off. Callie stopped, and looked at the floor again. Her eyes were about to burst to tears, her hands were shaking. "I'd think that girl was flirting with me." Brandon said, lowering his voice a little. "Hey, what happened? Are you okay?" He said. He must have noticed the tears blocking Callie's eyes, about to fall. "Correct me if I'm wrong, I'm a lousy girlfriend, ain't I?" She said, her voice had finally broke. "Whoa. I don't know." No duh, wrong move Callie. Never ask Brandon that, that was just weird. Callie started to explain, how peple would always ask if she and Easy were still together because they thought it was all Easy and Celine now. Callie told him how annoyed she was, at people who said that Easy and Celine look more like a couple compared to them. She was annoyed at how Celine would tell stories about Easy and shit. Callie got even more in rage whenever Anne and Raven would tell Callie how Celine would go up and call Easy during band practice; how Celine would tell them stories about Easy and how Celine had once mentioned to them that she knew she was late, and lucky her Easy was there to wake her up. Callie was mad. And sad. And annoyed. And confused on who she was to believe. She watched herself go crack, and deliberately crack herself. And all through out her attempts to make Easy stay, with her, and not with anyone else, she'd always fail. It would always feel like each time Callie tried to make him stay, he'd just turn away more. And one day, she thought, Easy would just leave her. Alone. "Callie," Brandon said, trying to calm her down. She was already crying, and people were starting to stare, "Relax. You wanna talk this through some other time. It's time for class. Breathe, relax. You'll be okay." He said calmly, just like he'd usually do. Callie looked at him, thankful that he spared his time to listen to her silly over rated rant. She nodded, and tried to suck in her breath. Breathe, Callie. Breathe.

Typical.

2008-12-26T11:26:00.004+08:00

Wednesday morning, Callie took her time walking through Stansfield Hall for class. She hadn't taken special care getting all fixed up this morning--it was easy to appear effortless when practically all the clothes you're wearing is exactly the same as every one else was. Her bland private school like white translucent blouse and green checkered skirt with a ridiculously lousy bow, at first glance, looked quite proper. Until you noticed the skirt practically falling way down coz the skirt doesn't fit any more. Apparantly Callie had lost weight in the past few months-- she was loving every bit of it. Even her black leather heels implied repressed "hidden agenda", which Cassie knew was for more too plain than blatant affection.

As Callie was climbing the short staircase, you'd hear her heels tapping the floor. It was pleasingly annoying, which made no sense. But it was beautiful at first, but then you'd grow annoyed of it. So as said, she was climbing up going to first class, Mr. Dalton passed by her and was startled by how unready she was. Her hair was damp, which instantly conjured up images of her waking up late and not willing to go to school--what a disappointment.
"Callie Vernon. Very nice to see you running late again." Mr. Dalton's voice wasn't that deep nor professional, but this was quite clearly the last thing Callie could wish that'd happen. "Hey Mr. Dalton." She took a step forward, overtaking her teacher, wishing he'd fall so she could scram and get in her seat before he steps foot in the classroom.

Fortunately, Mr. Dalton got the messege. He slowed down and let Callie go on first. Awkward, for an economics teacher, he'd be teaching bored freshman to care about Thucydides and Herodotus and all those other impossibly ancient historians? An awkward meeting with his late and sleepy pupil was clearly not the perfect way to start off his day.

So Callie dropped her bag, forgetting that her glasses was inside. She sat down and bowed her head down, obviously exhausted trying to out walk her History teacher. Mr Dalton entered the room and started his lecture.

Callie looked around the room, hoping to find something or someone interesting to make conclusions out of just for fun. She came across Brandon holding his right arm up with his newly cemented cast. For one second, Callie wondered, but for the next following seconds she remembered her classmate, Jeremiah, had fallen on Brandon during hockey practice. It wasn't really a pretty sight, it was mortifying but somehow hilarious. But Cassie wasn't that sadist to laugh about her old seatmate almost fracturing his arm.

"Cal, copy notes." Brandon mouthed the words to Callie. Then Callie remembered that she was supposed to copy notes, so that he'd just photocopy it. Poor guy, he couldn't write properly. But Cassie recalled Heath saying something about B being ambidextrous?

So Callie did so, she felt a gist of awe and pity for the guy. But as she glanced at him trying to act as normal as ever, she couldn't help but let out a little giggle. Happy that he got hurt, as payback for all his teases and taunts, but sad cause it was just so harsh that'd he'd need to get in a cast. Well, that's what's Karma's for.

She didn't notice, History was over. It was then Home Economics, then here comes Ms Moss with her not so worthy to be even called heels--cause it looked like it was only raised for an inch?. So yeah, there wasn't really exciting during Home Economics, Callie just day dreamed and felt her eyes shutting. Easy had kept her up on the phone till 11. But she doesn't regret staying up that late talking to this guy about practically non sense. She actually enjoyed it, just like how she and Celine would spend four hours on the phone talking about nothing but guys, food, gadgets, teachers and everything they could think of. Callie never thought that time would fly that fast, it was only like 15 minutes, but to be real, she was talking to Easy for around an hour forty. But then the chiding of her aunt telling her to sleep was so annoying to bare, so she had to get to sleep.

Okay, so now it's lunch time. Let's skip recess and all the other subjects. Callie had realized during recess that she had left her wallet at her trashy supposed to be home. "On the bright side, now i have an excuse not to eat." She said trying not to make her smile too obvious. But then Brett told Celine, Celine told Heath and Heath told everyone else. So, they forced her to eat--again. After eating, Callie felt like puking, but she couldn't; because Brett was on guard--again. So she had to bare the emotional pain of feeling your food get digested into your system and feel like everything else turns into huge big fat cells on her body.

Then, in a glimpse, lunch was over. It was Religion-- and that again, Cassie had fallen asleep for around thirty seconds. "....GIDEON." Mr. Reesefield modulated his voice so that all his sleeping students would wake up--and Callie was one of them. They got shocked and woke up. So when Mr. Reesefield saw that all was awake and trying to listen, he continued with his lecture.

Callie's new seatmate, Pete, had fallen asleep for around two minutes, until Mr. Reesefield spoke as loud as he could. ".... Strong, tall man." Mr Reesefield got his eyes on Pete. Pete woke up, Callie and Raven were about to burst to laughter, but they couldn't because of their fear of their teacher.

So at last, Pete and Callie could hear angels singing as the bell rings saying that the class was over. Finally, they could breathe. So now it was time for Calc. Mr. Haven was wearing a blue polo with faded black slacks, carrying his things. No one bothered to even greet him even before he could put his things down. Really typical actually. Too typical that Mr. Haven understood.

Mr. Haven was a smart man. He was one of Callie's favorite teachers. He wasn't like the others who were boring and all so adult. For a guy with quite some age, Mr. Haven was a mischievous, brutally frank and seriously whacked man. Everyone in Callie's class admired his frankness and advise. They've always thought that he'd make a great adviser, but he always declined cause he didn't like the idea of having an A+ Class. Cause really, the A+ class was nothing more than all the other sections out there. Very few had A+'s and most of them had B's.

"To all that i will be calling, braing out your planners." Oh shit. Callie didn't bring her planner cause she doesn't write anything on it. She hoped that she wouldn't be called, but no. "Vernon, Callie" Fuck-a-doodle-doo. She was screwed. But then she saw Rifat and Verena approaching Mr. Haven saying that they've left their planners as well. Mr. Haven told them to go to the principle's office and get a slip. And then a heavy feeling of guilt took Callie's sanity. So she went with Rifat and Verena to the P.O. She could feel her heart thumping harder as the door gets closer and her feet move towards the slightly closed door through the insanely long and dramatic Dumbarton common room and the Richards hall. But the principle wasn't there, so, what luck! So they went back and fortunately, Mr. Haven let them pass.

So two hours of Calc passed in a blink of an eye. And yes, it was time for dismissal. Callie hadn't even reach the gate yet, and the sky started crying. So she couldn't go home. But after a few seconds, it just let loose and let the sun shine on her.

Callie was staring looking around trying to find a familiar face-- she saw Easy and Drew. She then walked away. She swore she heard Easy talking to her from afar, but she couldn't really understand what he was saying. So she then leaned on the cemented platform staring blankly at the wet cemented floor. She turned around because this man's ass was blocking her view making it look seriously disturbing. She turned around and saw an old friend-- Harry. They talked for a while, but then Celine, Drew, Heath came along. Easy hugged Harry teasingly, he made himself seem obviously sarcastic. Oh the sarcasm, Callie hated him using it on Harry, but she loved every single part of Easy's sarcasm. It was mean but it was funny in a way-- cause Easy was doing it. :))

So all the five of them approached Callie, ignoring Harry. They were going to Starbucks, so Cassie just came along. So yeah, they went to the nearest Starbucks around cause Callie and Celine had their curfews. They passed by this tutorial center Heath goes to, then they went back to the campus. But without Eric cause Eric had to get home. So they arrived at school, but the mean lady guard wouldn't let them in the front gate. So they went on the other side and just hanged there.

It was getting late and the sky was starting to dim. The wind started to blow more furiously, and few students were around. Then they knew they had to get home. Brent and the other guys were seriously protective about Callie and Celine's safety, so Celine had to drop Callie home--wherein Callie found very unpractical, cause she could get home alone. But no, so she just followed coz like mentioned in previous posts, Easy was worse than her mother. And all three of them worse than her parents stuck together meant that she HAD to follow. But they had a point, it was late, it was dark, a few minutes till curfew and Callie might come along those maniac bastards again.

Stepped Out.

2008-12-26T09:02:00.002+08:00

"Breakfast, Callie?" Imagine Callie's surprise when she saw Catherine having her tasteless cold non fat cereal. Yesterday, she was in Korea, and now, she's here. I guess Catherine really is lucky to have a boyfriend who owns a private jet, eh? "What are you doing here?" That wasn't supposed to sound as a bad thing, but since it's kind of early, and not the usual time Callie would be awake, she forgot how to turn on her not-so-cranky-just-got-out-of-bed voice. "What? I can't visit my cousin?" Catherine said using some dreamy voice Callie would always hear when Catherine wants to persuade people. Catherine looks terribly skinny. Who cares if she was a model? She looked seriously sick. But she still got to pull in off with her poise. Damn it. "There's bacon, toast, pancakes, hash browns. There's cereal in the refrigerator, and a whole lot of fruits in the fruit basket. Anything you might fancy?" Catherine said, pointing at each item as if she were a sales clerk. "Banana." Callie got the banana and munched it up. "Wait. You're going somewhere?" Catherine asked. Why was she acting like Callie's mom when she was only 16? or 17? Whatever. "Out. None of your business." Callie shrugged. "Fine. Me and Frankie are gonna go visit his parents anyway, so no biggie." Catherine put on her annoying I-don't-care smile on. "Use protection." Callie teased and ran off to get a bath.

. . . . .

"Callie?" It was Kenzie Cross. She and the rest had band practice every Saturday, Callie kind of forgot about that. "Oh. I'm waiting for Brett." Callie smiled enthusiastically. "Oh yeah. You're going out right? Awesome. I'm waiting for Raven and Pete." Callie looked at the clock, it was 9:30, and Brett wasn't even there yet. Damn. "Hey, Kenz?" Callie looked around, hoping that she wasn't talking to someone who wasn't there. "Yeah?" Thank God Kenzie was still there. "Uhm. Never mind. I'm gonna go pick up Brett. She's taking forever." Callie said, half jokingly. She left St. Lucius and got on the nearest vehicle to Brett's house.

Ding dong, went the doorbell. An old lady in her jammies attended to her. "How may I help you?" The old lady said in a croaky voice. "Is Brett home?" Callie asked sounding a little impatient. "Yes, yes. Come in, would you?" The old lady opened the gate and smiled. "Thanks." Callie smiled back. Callie sat down on the sofa and waited for Brett to come down. After around ten minutes, Brett came down, still looking like she just woke up. "Brett, it's ten, and our agreement was nine." Callie chided. "Yeah, I know. Sorry. Uhmm.. Wait here, I'll jut bathe, get dressed, and then we go. Ok?" Brett said smiling apologetically.

Brett came down in her Earl jeans and a light cream Hollister hoodie, her hair still wet, and in low cut sneakers. "Hey, Aunt Gee, Esther, I'm off to go out with Callie." Brett said good bye and they were off to the streets. "So where are we going exactly?" Brett asked. "Honestly, I don't know." Callie paused for a minute to think. "Shit." Callie said, staring blankly into the stinky manhole in front of them. "What's wrong?" Brett asked. "Could we drop by my house first? I left some stuff." Callie smiled, a little embarrassed. "Oh sure."

How much more embarrassing could Dorota get? It was a little around 10:30, she messed up the living room again, and she had Bon Jovi on the radio at maximum volume. "Hey, Callie?" Brett called. Callie was out looking for a couple of hundreds and some threads she needed for her extracurricular requirement. "Yeah?" Callie said, still looking for them. "The book you were talking about?" Brett reminded her the book she always wanted to borrow from Callie, but Callie always forgot to bring it. "Oh yeah." Callie practically swiped the book form underneath the shelf and handed it to Brett. "Ok. I'm done. Let's go?" Callie looked at Brett, a little tired of looking for the stupid thread. Callie eyed Dorota, saying that they were leaving again.

They walked a little, and ended up in front of Harry's house. They talked to Harry for a little around five minutes and started walking again. They were walking to the nearest stop, but some maniacs caught their attention. The men looked drunk and stoned. They had their tops off, displaying their disgusting physiques. One man had a balding head, and big bushy eye brows, while the other had messy gray hair, and an ill groomed mustache.

"Pssst." The balding headed man said, as if he was trying to catch their attention.
"Don't mind them." Callie half whispered to Brett, gradually increasing the speed of their movement.
"Hey you, Shawtie." He called out, as he did a high five with his fellow asshole.
"You're looking hell sexy. What's your number?" The other one added.
"What the hell?" Brett said, sounding a little scared.
"Bastards." Callie muttered.
Luckily, they got away. Those two men looked pretty sick, as if they needed a bit of "action". Good thing Callie and Brett were far on the opposite side of the slightly narrow road, or else, they might've been done for. Ignoring what just happened, they walked all the way to Benny Cunningham's house, just like they planned.

They rang the doorbell, and Benny's mom came out. "Yes?" She said. "Is Benny home?" Brett asked, all psyched to get to see Benny again. "Yes she is. She's still sleeping, though. Do you want me to wake her up?" Benny's mother offered. Callie and Brett looked at each other, "I miss Benny. I wanna see her now." Brett whined like a kid. "Well then, come in. You could wake her up." Benny's mom let them in and led tem upstairs to Benny's room. Callie and Brett walked in Benny's silent room. She was still in bed, and even so, she still looked pretty hot. Brett woke Benny up. As soon as Benny opened her eyes, Callie and Brett screamd, "Surprise!". Benny looked surprised, "What the fuck are you guys doing here?!", she said. "Rise and shine, sweet-haat," Callie smiled, "We're going out.". "Now? But I'm still sleepy!" Benny said jokingly as she sat up. Benny got off her bed and eventually got ready.

Benny came back in, wearing her favorite baby blue Aeropostale top, a pair of 7 for All Mankind jeans, white sparkly flats, and a hat. "Benny, bring socks." Callie reminded. "Wh-- You know what. I won't ask." Benny said. Maybe she knew what they were gonna do. Brett's phone started ringing. It was Raven. "Hey, Raven?" Brett said on the phone. Callie and Benny stared at her. "We're in Benny's house." Brett answered after a while. Probably Raven was asking where they were. "Ok. Ok. We'll be there." Brett hung up and looked at her phone. "What'd she say?" Callie said, breaking the silence. "Raven, Pete and Zack are down at Ritoli's. They're waiting for us." Brett said. "Oh." Callie thought for a second, would Benny feel a little out of place there? Most likely she won't, Brett was there for her. Merging sounded good.

Ritoli's wasn't at all full when they arrived, actually, the only people there were the employees, Raven, Pete and Zack. Brett and Benny got food, while Callie settled for soda.

. . . . .

The dark room bursted with light when Easy and Celine arrived, pushing throught the glass doors of the shop. Callie turned to look. They were together. Again. Callie killed the paranoia. She had to keep it cool. Don't break Callie. Keep yourself together. The hour before they arrived, Callie, Raven, Pete, Brett, Benny and Zack were having a nice round of WoW, a once forgotten game due to traumatizing events. It was all good. "Tab on me." Callie announced. She gave the clerk the bill and told him to keep the change.

The moment they went outside, Callie noticed how Easy and Celine looked like a couple. Talk about couple shirt. She held herself together. Not now, Callie.

. . . . .

"Good thing the line isn't long anymore. I mean, last time, it was like hell a lot of people." Celine shared as they walked towards the entrace. Shut up, Callie chastised herself before she said something bad. Smooth sailing, really. They spent around an hour of skating. It's been three years since Callie's skated. Brett, well, fell. And that hurt. Celine kept falling, though she just laughed it out. Easy... was annoyed at the fact that a five year old was better at skating than him. Benny learned quick though.

"We're out to Starbucks." Brett and Benny said. Celine said, jumping around, "I'm at the bookstore.". "Uhm. I don't know where I'm going." Callie said laughing. Apparently, Easy was off to the hardware, so she'd decided she'd just come with.

Callie took some time buying threads, and then she went with Easy to go inquire about whatever stand that was. Then they went to the hardware... to buy a faucet. :)) I know, you're like, Why on earth does Easy have to buy a faucet?. Well, he broke the faucet he had at home, simple as that. [LMAO. :))]

. . . . .

"I'm bloated." Callie anounced, feeling a little queasy and on the verge of puking and crying. She had eaten so much, at least she felt like she ate so much. They didn't finish the food they had, so they decided to pack it and go.

Easy was going to the supermarket to buy stuff. Celine decided to go with him. Brett and Benny were going to the bookstore to check out books. As for Callie, she could go anywhere. Celine was pulling Callie to go with them, while Benny and Brett were pulling her otherwise. Celine eventually gave up, and Callie went with Benny and Brett.

. . . . .

"Miss, do you mind, how old are you?" Callie then realized how much of an insult that sounded when people asked people How old are you. x]
"Dude, I'm thirteen." Callie said, smiling, running away from the freaky business man who wanted to sell her some stuff.

They got to the bookstore. Benny, Brett and Callie were looking for books to read. Callie got two books, and paid. Benny was kind of in a hurry, so she called Easy up and told them to make it quick.

. . . . .

"Easy, where are we going?" Celine asked. It was probably 6:30, and Callie and Celine had spent the past fifteen minutes following Easy. "I'm going to Walter Greene. I don't know with you guys. Why are you following me?" Easy said as-a-matter-of-factly. "You suck." Celine laughed. "You could've at least told us." Callie added. "Sorry." Easy said.

. . . . .

"I thought you had no plans on coming home." Catherine said, the moment Callie stepped into the house. I thought you had plans on kissing up to your boyfriend's parents, Callie thought bitterly. Catherine handed over some pamphlets that held information about eating disorders and addictions to Callie. As well as some brochures that showed some places like Serenity Lake to rehabilitate. Way to go, Cousin. Of course, a recommendation for rehab was the best birthday gift. Not.

Welcome back to life?

2008-12-23T12:16:00.003+08:00

"What the hell Catherine?" Callie answered groggily. It was what? 5 something in the freaking winter morning, and Catherine's calling, not to mention waking her up, to say whatever shitload she had stacked up in her messed up brain. "Happy Birthday, Cousin Cal." And then Callie remembered. It was the nineteenth, the day she was finally, a teenager. Funny to think that months before shed be complaining to Easy and Heath that how young she felt whenever she was with them. But now, being thirteen doesn't really feel any different. Her life's still screwed up, and probably the only difference now is that it's been thirteen years of screwed up life, and not twelve. "Uh, sure, whatever Catherine. Give your cousin some sleep." Callie wailed, accidentally hitting her foot against the wall. "Jesus, Callie. Get up. I may be in Korea, but I still know what time it is there." Catherine chided. "You're in Korea? I thought you were in Peru? Like last week, you were still here bitching about me not being the fat fuck you want me to be." Callie nagged. It was right that she did. It wasn't like Catherine could nag all she wants, and Callie couldn't, right? It was time Catherine knew how it felt to be wrong. "Well, yeah. I was in Peru yesterday." Catherine paused, Callie could here her breathing and some Korean girl screaming. "Oh well. Happy Birthday, Cal. Enjoy, at least for today? Please? And for Christ's sake eat something. When I--" Callie put the phone away from her ear, annoyed at how Catherine was acting like she owned her. "Goodbye Cath." Callie put down the phone, not caring whatever Catherine had to say. So what if she didn't eat? It's not like if Callie got skinny Catherine wouldn't be her gorgeous pretty perfect self, right?

"Happy Birthday Madame Callie." Dorota came in, not knocking, as usual. "Thanks, D. I mean, Dorota." Callie smiled, a little amused at how Dorota manages to sweep the floor and do her bed at the same time. "Breakfast at table." Dorota said, opening the door for Callie. Callie smiled gratefully, "I'm skipping breakfast today, Dorota.". Callie walked out of her room, over hearing Dorota say, "That's what you did yesterday, and the day before.". Callie didn't mind. A few more pounds to lose, and that was what she was heading for. She was going to get thinner, she was going to lose some pounds. It was imperative that she did.

. . . . .

Ok, time check: It's 6:57, and not that much people have arrived in school yet. The day seems to be gloomy, the sky seems a little sad, and every one else... looks dead. "G'morning!" Heath says in his British accent as he and Callie bump into each other by the cafeteria. Callie smiles, not sure if she wants to speak or not. "Hey, Happy Birthday dude." Heath added, smiling as well. "Oh." Callie paused, Heath wasn't using his British accent no more. No fun. "Thanks." Callie smiled sweetly, looking ahead at the bunch of girls that seem to be starting a cat fight. "Well, See ya!" Heath exclaimed, saluting her.

"Callie, have you done the shirt?" A familiar voice popped out from behind. Callie's atempt to fall asleep had failed. She looked around to find Brett standing with her right hand facing Callie. What shirt? Callie thought for a second, what shirt was Brett talking about? And then she remembered the shirt that took her all night to finish. The shirt wherein it was supposed to be done by group, but the boys didn't even care painting more than a stroke. Callie messed up her newly arranged bag, searching for the shirt. "Here." Callie unfolded it and held it up high so that Brett could see. "Awesome." Brett took it and took a good look at it. "Do we have our names on it?" She asked, Donnie, Chris and Bean approaching. "Uhh... No." Callie said, feeling a little stupid to forget to put their names on it. Callie took her bag and and searched for a pen and paper. "Pen and paper, pen and paper.." She chanted.

"Happy Birthday to You..." The singing wasn't fit at all for a church choir, but the thought was good enough. It was Pete, Mionette, Raven.. and who was that last one? Rifat? Pete, Mionette and Raven have been good friends of Callie for the year's start. They've been kind of close, though they didn't really hang out during breaks. As for Rifat, well, she's been ignoring Callie a lot lately. She's been just moving away when Callie comes, making Callie feel a little cussed out. But now, she was there, standing by the doorway, purple roses in her hands, singing out "Happy Birthday" to her. Now that had to sting. "Fuck." Callie said, her voice barely heard, and her eyes getting hot and teary. Why did it sound like the whole class was singing? Without a teacher asking them to sing? Callie accepted the thriteen violet roses, hugging Pete, Mionette and Raven individually. And then Rifat stood there, right in front of her. "Truce of consequence?" Callie smiled to herself saying this. "I ignored you and bitched on you for this, hunn." Rifat said, handing over the roses with a big grin. "Ugh!" That was all Callie could say. She held the roses, not minding the thorns that seem to have been pricking her, and hugged Rifat so tight like Rifat was her teddy bear. "Hey, just keep accepting, okay? There's more to come." Rifat said as if it were a warning. What was more to come? More flowers? More surprises? More hugs? What?

. . . . .

"Bee, what the hell are you doing?" Callie asked, a little annoyed. She hasn't eaten anything in the past fourteen hours, not taking anything in, not even water, and all Brett was doing was looking for Celine. It was weird though, they've been hanging out, when Brett and Celine were never really that tight. They passed by Celine's class, and Celine wasn't there. It's either she was hanging around Natasha again, or she was hiding. "She isn't here, Bee." Callie complained. She was hungry, at least she convinced herself she was. Her knees felt weak, and she was getting a little dizzy at that moment. "Maybe Easy knows where Celine is." Brett said, as if it was the brightest idea she had in her life. Why would Easy know where Celine was? Among all people, why Easy? Callie still couldn't forget about what happened the other night on Y!IM. When Easy [or Drew] said that he liked Celine. Thought he did say he was joking, it was kind of hard to erase it from her memory. Not to mention last weekend, Celine had mentioned that they've gone out with Brett 'cause they were bored. Goddamn Paranoia. Let go, Callie. He isn't your boy no more.

Callie and Brett arrived right in front of Easy's classroom. Callie scanned the room for her expectedly hopping Celine Colista, and she was there. But she was standing next to Easy. Drew was on the right of Easy, while Celine was on Easy's left. And again, Goddamn Paranoia. Brett pushed Callie a little inside the classroom. And all Callie could say was, "What the hell?". Callie searched their faces, looking for an answer, but apparently it wasn't in their faces. The moment Callie saw Easy playing the guitar, she knew. "Hold fucking shit?" Callie had her face in her hands, not knowing of what was right for her to do. Run away, run away, run away. That was in her mind. She had to run away. She remembered having this agreement with Easy, that the next time they split, there was no going back. And now was the time they couldn't go back. So why was he doing this?

Easy started playing, and Callie didn't quite recognize what he was playing until he actually tried singing it. Easy was playing Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls. Callie was spaced out the moment she heard Easy sing, "I don't want the world to see me". Callie didn't here anything else after that. And then she just noticed that Drew was grabbing the guitar from Easy and complaining. "Stop! You're tone deaf." Drew said teasingly. "Just tell her how you feel." Celine smugged, nudging Easy's arm. "Yeah, Easy. Just tell her." Brett added.

"How on Earth am I going to say this?" Easy scratched his head. "Go to the fucking point, I'm hungry!" Ryan said, leading off to a cute little giggle. "Okay, okay. Uhmm..." Callie looked at her watch, time was ticking. Easy was blabbing about something, but he caught her attention the moment he said, "Okay So I still love you." Callie almost let her jaw drop. All this time, she thought Easy was irrevocably falling for Celine, then he comes her saying he still loves her? Callie searched around, hoping to find hidden cameras, thinking she was being punked. "Could you please take me back?" Easy pleaded like a child. Callie almost smirked. Callie hid her face in her hands, trying to avoid the tears from falling. "Should I?" Callie discreetly asked Brett. She could feel like everyone's eyes were on her, and she didn't like that. "Cal. You've told me. All through out the time you guys weren't together, you still loved him." Brett smiled suggestively. "Why deprive yourself from your own happiness?" That was a rhetorical question. "I know. It's .. I don't know. " Callie couldn't express how she felt in words. Luckily, Brett got her point. "You're scared... that maybe.." Callie didn't like where this was going to. She wanted Brett to shut up right that instant. "Hey," Thank God Brett didn't continue what she was saying. "Trust him." Brett smiled, Callie smiled, they both looked at Celine. "What?" Celine's usual high pitch voice surrounded the silent area. Celine was day dreaming, again. Callie noticed Drew and Ryan slowly moving closer to Easy. They whispered something. And unlike Easy, their whispers were soft enough so that no one else but them would hear. "Uhh.. You have nice eyes?" Easy said. The first thing that entered Callie's mind was, What the hell?, but she eventually ended up laughing. "Callie!! I'm hungwy!" Ryan said. His adorable little face pouting, he was irresistable. Callie looked at Easy, his eyes looked sincere? It did, a little. "Yes." Callie half whispered. Brett and Celine practically squealed so loudly that the boys couldn't here what Callie said. The boys looked at Celine and Brett, jumping up and down, probably asking, What just happened in their boy brains. "She said yes, Easy!" Celine was jumping for joy, the boys having their high fives. Celine ran to the rear of the classroom and got this pretty wrapped gift. It was a bear. Apparently, that's the reason why they've went out last weekend. It all made sense now.

The rest of them were celebrating, and Callie was left alone staring at the big blue bear. Callie suddenly felt a little warm, and then she noticed people around her were making "wheeeeeeee" sounds. She then noticed that these familiar hands that wrapped around her were Easy's. She imagined little angels and devils of Drew right in front of her.

Angel Drew: Kiss him! Kiss him! Kiss him!
Devil Drew: Kiss him! Kiss him! Kiss him!
Callie: Why are you guys on one side?
Devil Drew: Well, you know. At least we agree on something now.
Angel Drew: You're not bad, asshole. You ain't bad.
Callie: Hello? I'm still here.
Mini Drews: Hi.
*poof*

Callie laughed at that thought. Easy was still hugging her. His body against hers, his arms wrapped around her, Callie felt like she could melt right that second. But then the thought of Marymount marching down the hallway saying they were going to be suspended ruined the whole thing. Callie noticed she was still smiling, so she put away the smile and said, "You can let go now?". Easy immediately did so.

. . . . .

"Do we have practice?" Callie asked Mionette and Raven. Rifat was missing, and Pete was busy talking to Mr. Wilde. "I don't know." Delilah Parker said, sounding a little pissed off. "Oh." Callie turned to face Mionette. "Mi, what's wrong?" Callie noticed Mionette holding her phone, texting someone. Raven said that Mionette was waiting for her maid to drop something. "Hey, wanna go ambush Rifat?" Callie said out of the blue. She still thought that her thanks a while ago wasn't enough. Mionette, Callie and Raven walked towards the gate, with a plan to ambush Rifat at her house. But then Rifat was there, holding a freaking cake and shitload of plastic utensils. "What's this?" Callie said, voluntarily getting the shitload of plastic utensils from her. "Happy Birthday Hunn." Rifat said again. Didn't she just say that this morning with her dramatic entrace of flowers? I guess this was what she was talking about. I guess this was the more that was to come. Well then, it had arrived. They had this little party with the class. They shared the cake, dirtied each other up with icing and spilled soda on each other. Even Solomon, Julian and Bart joined in.

"Hey Bee." Callie called Brett. "Yeah?" Brett turned around, seemingly tired of acting the scene she had with Julian. "9 tomorrow, kay?" Callie waved goodbye and went home. Tomorrow, they were going to go all out and go somewhere. But here's the deal, Callie hasn't planned anything yet. So probably she'd just go and consult her consultant? Right, Celine? ;)

Taking Control.

2008-12-23T11:15:00.002+08:00

"And so I thought, I'd be fine. I thought I could live without you, but I can't. But now I'm dying. I'm dying, emotionally, and literally dying, I love you"

"Turn off the fucking TV Callie." Why does Catherine have to use the word 'fucking' all the time? It was getting fucking annoying.

"But Yumi's dying, and she's confessing--" Catherine glared at Callie. It looks like the icecapades are back in town. Welcome home, Ice queen.

"I don't fucking care. Turn it off." And there she goes again. 'Fucking.'

"What the hell is your deal, Catherine? Frankie broke up with you again?" Callie said teasingly. Frankie was Catherine's long term boyfriend. They've been together since Callie was in fourth grade. But they'd always break up for silly reasons. Frankie was a model, a really hot and seriously tall model. He was in love with Catherine. Catherine loved him back as much. Sometimes, you'd think that once they finish college together, they'd end up marrying each other-- which was cool, 'cause Frankie was Catherine's first boyfriend.

"Why is dinner in the trash can? Your trashcan has dinner? Callie, I thought--"

"Thought what Catherine? Thought what? Say it."

"I thought you were getting over Ana."

"It's not that easy, Catherine. If you think all I have to do is eat, well hell no you're wrong."

"Callie, it hurts to see you killing yourself that way."

"I'm not even skinny Catherine. People would think you were anorexic and not me."

"That's because I have to stay this way 'cause of the industry. But you.."

"Me? Oh yeah. I'm sorry, I'm no fucking gorgeous model that gets to roam around the world taking pictures of my pretty face and my drop dead gorgeous body, right Catherine? I'm not you. That's why I have to be anorexic. Right?"

"Callie, I didn't say anything like that!"

"That's cause you can't say it. You're scared you might hurt my feelings."

"Callie, listen."

"Don't tell me to listen Catherine. You've been killing me my whole life. Every fucking time I'm next to you, every fucking time I'm with you. You just love killing me."

"Callie, I didn't mean to."

'Well then, now you know."

"Callie, I'm just concerned. When I came back from Italy, you passed out. I don't want--"

"Yeah right you don't."

"Callie, do you really want to go back to the ER again?"

"I made a mistake, Catherine! One fucking mistake and you won't let me forget about it!"

"Callie" Catherine says quietly, "watch your language."

"Watch MY language? You're the one who says fucking all the time."

"I'm older than you."

"So what the fucking hell? It's not like I did it on purpose, you know it's not like I said, 'Know what would be fun? If I stopped eating and passed out in front of Catherine and the whole fucking family so they'd take me to the ER and treat me like a fucking half-wit for the rest of my life'. For fuck's sake, I'm eating! I eat all damn day long! I'm going to be a fat fuck, and then you'll probably be happy, right?"

"Yes, Callie. I'll be happy when you're a fat... fuck."

Callie makes a noise that sounds like a laugh and stares at Catherine from across the living room.

"I know your mom and dad didn't teach you to talk like that."

"Yeah, well, they aren't the only people I learn things from. You guys don't get to decide what I know and what I don't."

Callie enters her room, and slams the door shut, leaving Catherine alone, standing up in the living room.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

2008-12-22T22:53:00.004+08:00

Not much has happened since then. Callie, Celine, Brett, Heath, Easy--and now Ryan and Drew. Harry was officially kicked out, apparently, after that night's mishap, Easy and Heath have learned to despise Harry. As you may have noticed, this time Callie and Easy's breakup seem to be te most peaceful among all breakups recorded in the history of tragedies.

Last Friday, Callie had just told Easy whatever shit. And like I said, it was peaceful. They're friends [I think.] now. Good friends. But of course you can't expect everything to be okay, like, of course there are awkward times wherein total silence is abundant. Callie had told Easy once after their break-up that he was then her official best guy friend, sure yeah, pretty classy Callie. Your ex boy friend as your new best guy friend, that was pretty stupid.

________________________________

EasyWalsh: So any new guys in your life now?
CVernon: Well, no.
CVernon: Just as you may not have thought, I'm kinda still not over you.
[Now that has got to be the stupidest thing Callie has ever done. Telling your ex boyfriend you still aren't over him? Good Riddance.]
EasyWalsh: Oh.
EasyWalsh: Well I haven't gotten over you either anyway.
[Great. Now both of them were stupid. Clap clap clap. Then what the hell was the break up for if it'd end up this way? Ai-ah.]
________________________________

EasyWalsh: Could you stay by the chapel like tomorrow?
CVernon: Why?
CVernon: Do you like, need help courting someone and you don't know how to do it right?
EasyWalsh: Uhhh.. Yeah.
CVernon: Oh.
[Callie felt a sudden drop in her stomach. Damn, that hurt.]
CVernon: So who's the unluckily very lucky girl?
EasyWalsh: I'll tell you tomorrow.
CVernon: You suck. Who is it?
EasyWalsh: I told you, I'll tell you tomorrow.
CVernon: Can I at least guess?
EasyWalsh: Try your luck.
CVernon: Uhm? Caddy?
EasyWalsh: Damn, no.
CVernon: Uhh.. Benny?
EasyWalsh: Benny's away at boarding school for pete's sake.
CVernon: *laughing emoticon*
CVernon: AHAH!
CVernon: Brandon Buchanan!
EasyWalsh: Fuck? Hell no. I'm straight man. I mean, woman.
CVernon: Drew? *rolling on the floor laughing emoticon*
EasyWalsh: No. I'm straight.
CVernon: Uh.. Tinsley?
EasyWalsh: How the hell would it be Tinsley? I don't even talk to her.
CVernon: Celine?
[Please say no, Please say no, Please say no, Please say no.]
EasyWalsh: Damnit.
CVernon: Is that a yes?
[Please say no, please say no, please say no.]
EasyWalsh: Just don't tell her.
[Goddamnit. He didn't say no. Callie felt her eyes fill up with tears, her stomach twisting, her head started to hurt. She knew keeping connection with him was a bad idea, but no, she wanted things to be 'peaceful'. But for some reason, Callie felt like she wasn't talking to Easy. She felt like... she was talking to someone else.. someone like... Drew.]
CVernon: Why not? I could help you get to her. *big grin emoticon*
EasyWalsh: Hey I was kidding! I don't like Celine! She's Drew's!
CVernon: Tch. Yeah right.
EasyWalsh: WTH? I was kidding.
[Of course you were kidding Easy. You should be kidding. Right? He was kidding, wasn't he?]
CVernon: Oh well. I kinda gotta go
CVernon: Do homework. *big grin emoticon*
EasyWalsh: Hey, I don't like Celine, kay?
CVernon: Yeah, sure, whatever.
CVernon: I
CVernon: Oh wait. I broke up with you. I forgot. *laughing emoticon*
CVernon: Ayyt. See ya Walsh. *winking emoticon*
EasyWalsh: See ya Vernon.
________________________________

Hanging out with your ex boyfriend during lunch still thinking that he was in love with your best friend wasn't comfortable. Callie would just sit there, wishing that she'd just *poof* into dust. Everytime she saw Celine bugging Easy around like the usual, Callie couldn't help but want to just stand up and leave. Easy did say he was kidding, but again, jokes are always half meant. What if he does like Celine? Callie wasn't supposed to be jealous, she had no freaking right to, 'cause he wasn't hers anymore.

Game Over.

2008-12-21T17:21:00.006+08:00

It's been a bumpy ride on this seemingly never-ending roller coaster. But now that everything's been said and done, it's time to get off. The ride's over.

________________________________
CVernon: Watcha doin?
EasyWalsh: Playing.
CVernon: Oh.
________________________________

"Hey, Harry." Callie Vernon smiled as she saw Harry skipping around in the crowd. It was a Friday, and her classes ended at four that day. Callie was so bored, sitting around the guard house, looking for something to do and someone to talk to. Brett has gone home, Celine is somewhere with her bitch gang, and Raven is probably roaming around Rhinecliff. She's spent a few minutes happily talking to Zack and Cornette, but she'd come to think that the two love birds needed their alone time, so she just left instead. Hell no was she going to talk to Brandon, even if they were good, eyes were lurking everywhere, and hell no did she want to get into whatever scandalous rumor people conjured out of boredom. "Callie! What are you still doing here?" Harry asked, dropping his bag to the cemented floor. "I'm um, hanging around? Whatever. Seen Easy?" Callie asked, looking behind him, just in case Easy was behind him. "He's with Drew. Again." Harry said, sounding a little sad and bummed out. "Hey, anything wrong?" Callie knew something was wrong. To the tone of Harry's squeaky munchkin voice, you yourself would know. "Eh. I'd rather not talk about it." Harry shrugged. Sure he didn't want to talk about it, but Callie was bored, so she had the urge to talk about whatever was bothering him. "Come on." Callie insisted. "Well, okay." Harry and Callie then started roaming around St. Lucius. They came across Easy, but Easy was too busy talking to Drew, so Callie didn't bother calling him over. "Easy's been acting weird." Callie commented, she was spaced out, barely even hearing whatever Harry had to say. "Well, yeah. That's where I was going to." Harry continued, his head faced down. "What? What do you mean by that's where I was going to?" Callie asked, a little worried about whatever Harry had to say next. "How about we discuss things with Ms. Rose?" Harry offered, Callie accepted. They walked under the drizzling rain, feeling the heavy raindrops fall and splash on their heads.

Ms. Rose was busy stalking her "kids" through MySpace. And then Callie realized, that's how the teachers know so much about their students, why hadn't she thought of that before? So right there and then, she decided to delete her MySpace account, and all the other useless god forsaken accounts she had in other social networking sites. They're useless, so what if you have an account and post pictures and edit layouts and write stuff about yourself and comment people and shit? It was for the bored, and eventually, you yourself would grow bored of whatever shit those social networking sites had to offer. "G'day Ms. Rose." Callie had put on her best smile, not to mention, had her best behavior stuck in. But of course, she wouldn't pretend to be some good old goodie goodie two shoes. Fuck, she'd still be herself, but she'd have to contain herself from whatever language comes out of her mouth. "Callie, Harold?" She got it wrong again. She always mistakes Harry for Harold. "Harry." Calie and Harry said in unison. They glanced at each other. Harry smirked, but Callie couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Why're you guys here?" Ms. Rose asked, knowing something was up. That was one thing Callie liked about Ms. Rose, she's know the hell something was wrong, and she wouldn't give no shit to not know what the hell was wrong.

"And so yeah. That's why things are all messed up." Practically an hour passed since Callie sat down in Ms. Rose's office to accompany Midget Harry here to wail about his concerns of Easy and Drew. It comes to show that Easy and Drew are a little too tight, that Mr. Harry Dillon here has lost his place. Probably Harry's just jealous of Drew 'cause he gets all Easy's attention. It only meant two things. One: Harry was an overprotective best friend. And two: Harry was seemingly gay to be jealous of Drew 'stealing' his Easy away from him. But either way, Harry was not happy about it. He says that Easy's been spending his time playing video games with Drew, and sometimes Ryan. Callie really didn't mind, he was a guy, and he isn't that old so it was kind of normal. But then she felt a heavy amount of pity for Harry. She felt a wee bit sad to find out that Easy's been practically ignoring and placing Harry out of discussions. And by the way Harry explains it, it sounded like he really didn't feel welcome anymore. Poor Harry. Then Callie came to think, Easy did mention to her one time that he hadn't eaten and he's been spending his nights up late playing that video game. She told him to watch out and take care of his health, but Easy didn't seem to listen. "Well, did you try talking to Easy?" Ms. Rose asked Harry. Callie didn't realize she's been day dreaming 'til then. "I couldn't. He'd eventually shrug me off and tell me to get the hell shit away from him." Harry said. His voice sounded like it was breaking, and his eyes were all glassy as if he were about to cry. "How about you, Callie? Have you tried talking any sense into Mr. Walsh?" Ms. Rose eyed her. Was Callie and Easy really that official for even the counselors to know? "Ehh.. Not exactly.. I mean.. No." Callie said, slightly embarrassed. "Uhm. It's like 5:30, and I gotta go home before my aunt starts thinking I'm out in the stables making out with Easy again." Callie half smiled, and stood up as she looked at Ms. Rose. "Thanks for your time Ms. Rose." Callie smiled sweetly. She nudged Harry by the elbow, "Uhh Thanks." Harry says immediately. The moment Callie and Harry stepped out, Callie's eyes focused on the rain that hit the road, and not Harry who just kept on wailing about Easy. "Hey, I gotta go, Midget." Callie said, her bag on her shoulder, waving lousily. But really, why'd she sa goodbye if Harry was practically her neighbor? "I'll go with you. Dorota knows me right? She wouldn't mind if I came with you to go home? I mean, our houses are--" Callie looked at him, almost glaring, telling him to shut up. "I get it, twerp." Callie smiled for a second, not paying to Harry was already down getting his bag. "All set?" Callie asked, in a sudden change of mood. "Let's go." Harry tilted his head toward St. Lucius' main gate. They walked home, instead of taking the silly rides some jackass fucks offered.

________________________________

HarryD: I mean, I can barely talk to Easy anymore. He's always talking to Drew.
CVernon: You're jelling aren't you?
HarryD: Jelling? What the hell? Jelly?
CVernon: *rolling eyes emoticon* Jelling. Getting jealous?
CVernon: You suck H. I've been using that word for what? A year? And you still don't know what that means?
HarryD: Not quite, but I'm getting used to it. *big grin emoticon*
CVernon: Move on, Dillon. He's found another lover. *laughing emoticon*
HarryD: What the hell? What lover? Callie, you're sick.
CVernon: Sorry, there's just been a lot on my mind lately.
HarryD: Oh.
HarryD: I'm sorry I had to add up to that.
CVernon: Naaah. Actually, Easy's obsession with VGames has been a concern to me, but I just don't really make a huge deal out of it. It's his life kasi.
HarryD: Could you talk to him for me? I mean like, he would listen to you. Right?
CVernon: I don't think so, Harry.
HarryD: Why not?
CVernon: Well, I haven't really spoken to him lately. And I don't think I'd have the right to.
HarryD: What? What do you mean you don't have the right to? For Christ's sake, you practically own him.
CVernon: Eh. No, Harry. I don't.
HarryD: So what? Drew owns him?
CVernon: Eh, No. His parents maybe? But not me, and most definitely not Drew.
HarryD: Can you just tell him what I think?
CVernon: Why don't you do that?
HarryD: He'd shove my face and kick my ass.
CVernon: Too bad.
HarryD: Callie!
CVernon: What?
HarryD: Help.
CVernon: Harry, I'm not his mother for him to listen to me. And plus, he'd probably be playing when he goes online, so it's kinda no use.
CVernon: I can't deprive him from his own happiness.
HarryD: But he'd give time for you? I mean, you ARE his girl, right?
CVernon: Not unless he has other girls. Haha. Kidding.
HarryD: You're in pain. Spill.
CVernon: How do you know me so well?
HarryD: I just do. Spill.
CVernon: I'd rather not.
HarryD: Spill.
CVernon: No.
HarryD: I'll tell Easy about... you know..
CVernon: For fuck's sake. Shut the hell up?
HarryD: Spil..
CVernon: Fine.
HarryD: Can I have a head start first? What's it about?
HarryD: Easy? Family? Gender?
CVernon: WTF? Gender? Try asking that to yourself.
HarryD: Hey, it would be hot if you were bi. I mean you, making out with some other girl...
CVernon: Shut up.
HarryD: Ok. So, what? What's bothering? Or maybe, Who's bothering you.
CVernon: No one. Nothing. I think it's just myself.
HarryD: What?
CVernon: Have I been a good girl?
HarryD: Damn, that sounds bad.
CVernon: Lust set aside, have I been a good girl? To Easy, I mean?
HarryD: I don't know. Ask him. Hmmm.. Does that mean anything else.
CVernon: Don't get on my nerves.
HarryD: Sorry.
HarryD: Why'd you ask anyway?
CVernon: I don't know. I think I've been a bad girl, a bad partner? A bad girlfriend?
HarryD: Why'd you say that?
CVernon: I don't think he's happy.
HarryD: Callie, you're crazy. You know how you rejected him in fifth grade, and now that the two of you are finally together, you think he isn't happy? I mean, he wouldn't dare ask you no shit to be his girl if you wouldn't make him happy.
CVernon: Well. No shit, Sherlock. But still... It's like.. I'm not enough.
HarryD: What? You know you could give him EVERYTHING he wants, if you know what I mean.
CVernon: I don't know what you mean. And that's another thing that's on my mind. I don't know what he wants, or what's going through his head. He's been so distant, so distant away from me. I don't think I even know him any fucking more.
HarryD: You are such a drama queen.
CVernon: At least I don't get jealous over Drew.
HarryD: Not yet.
CVernon: Fuck you.
HarryD: Just doing my job. Annoying you.
CVernon: You've done it well.
________________________________

CelCol: So why is Midget Boy on his gloomy side today?
CVernon: Easy's hanging out with Drew playing VGames.
CelCol: So?
CVernon: He's jelling.
CelCol: WTF?! Awesome.
CVernon: Eew.
CelCol: But I've been noticing that though. Easy's been pushing Harry away, and pulling Drew closer.
CVernon: You do realize how gay that sounds?
CelCol: Not 'til you mentioned it. *laughing emoticon*
CVernon: Seriously, I'm worried.
CelCol: Don't tell me you're jelling over Drew too.
CVernon: Fuck off. I bet you're jelling over Easy stealing YOUR DREW.
CelCol: He isn't mine. I think.
CVernon: Whatever.
CelCol: Joking aside, it's true. He isn't mine. Patrick's been keeping me company, BTW.
CVernon: Who the hell is Patrick?
CelCol: Some junior.
CVernon: You're dating a junior? Damn.
CelCol: No. He's just been bugging me... very sweetly.
CVernon: ...And you're falling for his douche bag tricks?
CelCol: He's kinda cute.
CVernon: I don't fucking care. How insensitive could you be?
CelCol: What?
CVernon: Drew's practically drooling over you. Don't you see?
CelCol: I like the chase.
CVernon: And you're sounding like Natasha and her bitches.
CelCol: No I'm not, they're worse.
CVernon: My point exactly, you're acting LIKE them.
CelCol: Whatever, Cal.
CelCol: So back to Midget Boy. What's his deal?
CVernon: He's jelling over Drew. I think.
CelCol: Silly Midget.
________________________________

EasyWalsh: Hey.
CVernon: Uhm, yeah?
EasyWalsh: Something wrong?
CVernon: I don't know.
________________________________

HarryD: Hey Cal!
CVernon: What now?
HarryD: Look at this:
CVernon: What?
HarryD: [Don't type.]

HarryD:

HarryD: Hey Easy?

EasyWalsh: What?
HarryD: Uhhh. Could I ask you a quick question?
EasyWalsh: Shoot me, Dillon.
HarryD: Would you trade VGames for Callie?
EasyWalsh: No.
HarryD: Wait, what? Again, Would you trade VGames for Callie?
EasyWalsh: No.

HarryD: Sorry, Cal. I just think you had to know.
CVernon: No shit, Sherlock.
HarryD: So, how are you taking it?
CVernon: See, I told you Harry. He wasn't happy. He'd choose VGames over me. And I'd accept that with grief, unfortunately.
HarryD: Wait. Look:

EasyWalsh: I mean, Yes.
EasyWalsh: I was reading stuff, sorry.

CVernon: He was reading stuff? But you asked him twice?
HarryD: He says he got the question wrong.
CVernon: You asked him twice, Harry. 'Nough said.
HarryD: Callie, don't do any sudden moves.
CVernon: Harry, I won't do this ONLY because of that. I have my own reasons remember?
CVernon: He ain't happy, and I ain't happy knowing he ain't happy.
HarryD: He read it wrong, for fuck's sake.
CVernon: And again, you asked him twice.
HarryD: Callie
CVernon: Save it, Harry. He ain't happy, and he proved that theory right.
HarryD: Callie
CVernon: Goodnight Harry. *smiling emoticon*
________________________________

CVernon: Hey.. Uhhh.
EasyWalsh: ???
CVernon: I'm sorry.
EasyWalsh: Huh? What for?
CVernon: Not being good enough to make you happy.
EasyWalsh: What are you talking about?
CVernon: Does this ring a bell? :

HarryD: Hey Easy?

EasyWalsh: What the hell? I said I was reading. I read it wrong.
CVernon: Hey, relax. He asked you twice, and you had the same answer.
EasyWalsh: I was fucking reading.
CVernon: You know what, you don't have to explain. I totally understand.
EasyWalsh: No you don't.
CVernon: I'm sorry I haven't been the kind of girl you were looking for. I'm sorry I know nothing about you. I'm sorry I'm not good enough to make you happy. I'm sorry, for everything.
EasyWalsh: Callie, what the hell?
CVernon: Oh, and may my acknowledgments reach you. Thanks for, uhh.. being there. And making my stay worth while.
EasyWalsh: What are you trying to say?
CVernon: Thanks. Sorry. Goodbye.
CVernon has signed out.
________________________________

Callie hit her head on the wall. "Callie, what the hell did you just do?" She asked herself. Did she just break up with Easy? Even she couldn't understand what was up in her mind. Her fingers just kept typing, her tears just kept flowing, and by each second, her dignity beng swept away. She loved Easy. She loved him, that was a fact. But she couldn't stand being his girl, when she couldn't make him happy. And to find out that he would be happier stuck with his video games than her, made it hurt even more. So Callie was thinking of going back online, to say that it was all some joke, but she didn't. You know what they say, jokes are always half meant.

It's enough, when I say it's enough. --Blair Waldorf.

2008-12-21T16:58:00.005+08:00

Everyone has their limits, even those who take things to the extreme.

Callie was relieved she woke up without no traumatizing dream. At last, she's calm. She's been in a pretty good mood. She wasnt in the mood to eat breakfast, so she just skipped and waited a little later for brunch. She got on the Net, chatted and updatd her blog. Everything was perfectly fine until her so-called "granduncle" entered the room.

"It's only 8 in the morning and your eyes are popping out staring at that computer. Don't you know how high the bills are these days. Just because your parents raised you spoiled- a spoiled brat, doesnt mean you can do everything you want. You're no Paris Hilton. You're parents pay for the bills, and you dont even care. What kind of daughter are you?! Why not try respecting your parents? You know your parents really should try raising you pro......"

And before Callie's granduncle could even finish speaking, Callie got up and stood straight, clinched fists and obviously anger was in her eyes. She wouldnt care if he just stopped at "Dont you know how high the bills are..." but he didnt. He had to bring up how her parents raised her, this made Callie furious. She knew that speaking back would be very disrespectful and unethical, but it's been too much. ENOUGH. She then spoke out everything. She couldn't stop talking, like a flood. It just kept flowing out of her mouth. WORD VOMIT. Even she was surprised...

"LOOK! Would you just shut the hell up?! My parents raised me well, and yes i know how high the bills are. I'm not stupid. And NO. I'm not a spoiled brat. It's a free country, I'll do what i want. And you have NO right AT ALL to reprimand me from that. I would consider if you were my REAL grandfather, but you're not! You're just my granduncle. JUST A GRANDUNCLE. So, dont tell me how to act, i know how to act. Don't tell me what respect is because i will NEVER EVER listen to a hypocrite like you. You're a fuggly old PHONY so dont you dare judge how my parents raised me. Don't you dare tell me who i should be. Don't you dare tell me i should respect my parents, because i already do. Don't tell me that my parents should raise me up better coz you know what, YOU'RE NOT ANY OF MY PARENTS. And you have no right to say a word about how they bring me up!"

Tears overflooded Callie's face. She was acting stronger than before, she finally fought back. She finally, FINALLY had the guts to say the things she wanted to say.

"See. You don't respect the elderly. You're under my custody now, so do what i say. You're a good-for-nothing ingrate. You're a spoiled brat. Don't talk to me that way. Is that what they teach you in school?!"

Callie was seriously mad now. She loved her school, and he thinks it's trash. She then again spoke again. Stronger, fighting back.

"Yes, this is what they teach me in school. They teach me to stand up for myself. They teach me to be strong and keep holding on to the challenges face. They teach me to be who i am without anyone telling me what to do. They teach me to stand up for what i think is right and what i believe in."

Callie was so mad she hit the wall with her fist.

"Well, what did they teach you in school?! Did they teach you to steal from your niece and your grandniece?! Did they teach you to be an ASS and get money from relatives?!" yelled Callie. It was scandalous.

Aunt Demi and her Dorota were listening, worried about what was happening.

"What are you talking about?! I do not steal?! That's it, you've said enough. I'm telling this to your parents."
said Callie's granduncle, obviously guilty and sweating profusely.

"Oh yeah, Well I'm telling my parents that you're stealing money from us. You're a sucker. An old fuggly FAG. You hear me a FAG. You cant win over a 12 year old. A FAG. You're just too GAY to fight me coz you know you'd lose. Everyone in this household knows what kind of criminal are you. My aunts cant say anything because they owe you their life. But i dont owe you anything. Just because my mother owes you her life, doesnt mean that i'd have to carry that same burden."

Callie's granduncle locked the door. Making it secluded and private.

"TAKE ONE STEP NEAR ME or TOUCH ME i swear i'd kick your ass not to mention your groin you fuggly old FAG."

He stayed put. Sweating, looking nervous and bothered.

"Ok, so you know my secret but you won't rat me out would you? Let's settle this in a mature manner. Here's ten grand, take it and forget about everything that happened before and let's start of a clean slate. What do you say?" said her granduncle throwing ten grand on the cold stark floor. Callie was pissed off big time. She stepped on the ten grand, lifting her granduncle by thrusting his shirt. She had this peculiar strength, like she was running on adrenaline.

"Look. I'm no whore that you could pay me to do your will. I dont do things through bribary like your fuckass tactics. So it's either you return all the money you got from me and my parents and we'll forget everything that happened, Or you continue your foul acts and I'll see you in court." furiously spoke Callie.

Callie got the money and a pair of scissors, she cut in bits of pieces, took a match and burnt it. When the fire went out and all was left was ashes, she threw the ashes at her granduncle.

"Take your money old fag... Or.. MY money.. MY PARENT's money rather." said Callie. She rolled her eyes, grabbed a cutter and pointed it straight at the old man.

"Calm down!" Callie yelled her granduncle. You could see it in his eyes that he's frightened and worried.

"DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN! Look, if you think I'm joking about seeing you in court, well think again LOOOOSER. I have enough money in my account to hire a lawyer, and not just any lawyer- A GOOD ONE!" yelled Callie as she pushed her granduncle out of the room.

Before Callie's granduncle could even speak, Callie screamed
"GET OUTTA HERE YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING CRIMINAL!"

And what happened to the old man is now a different story. :P

Dream on II

2008-12-21T10:55:00.005+08:00

Three days, one nightmare playing repeatedly. It was as if it was on replay, but in different locations. First it was at Kennedy Hall, second was by the St. Lucius Dolphin's Pool, and third was at Guidance Office where Ms. Rose stays. "You're just a little too bitter.", that line repeated over and over again, it was getting to Callie's head. She had no idea about whatever that had to mean, but she knew it wasn't good.

Callie Vernon woke up feeling like she had awaken to the middle of a frostbite. Her toes and fingertips were ice cold numb, her lips were pale and chapped, and her eyes were bloodshot. It's been a very uncomfortable night, nothing about this night was good. Before going to bed, she over heard Aunt Demi talking to Catherine about how her fuckass granduncle just swept away five grand which was supposed to be meant for Callie's shopping, and now she had this sick-o nightmare again. Great, just great. Callie went out, she glanced at the clock and it was almost midnight. Callie grabbed a glass of water, trying to relax. Going back to the room, she noticed her iPod was still plugged to her computer, recharging. She took it out, and plugged it in her dock and pressed play. Beethoven started playing his 7th symphony, and Callie just stared at the plain wall. And from that point, she didn't know what happened, but one thing was for sure, she doze off.

- - - - -

The trees in St. Lucius were never this big, right now, they seemed to have stretched upward, their branches extending, their leaves falling off. It was pretty duff that Callie had to stand in the middle of the huge trees, leaves fluttering around her cold, bare feet. It was dark and cold. The only supply of light were the moon and stars that shined beautifully down on the ground, making the soil seem to be shimmering with little crystals and diamonds. But forget about the glimmering earth beneath her feet, everything else looked scary. St. Lucius looked more like a necropolis than a place to enhance your knowledge and gain wisdom. Callie looked above the night sky, once more admiring the stars that shined and spread in the dark. The north star couldn't guide the way, there were so many stars that Callie couldnt even see it. She saw constellations up above, she couldn't quite believe it.

"If the aurora borealis lights up the northern skies, its lost on me." Callie felt her feet move, dragging her to wherever.

Oozing up on the sidewalk cracks, come the people of the night: Easy, Brett, Celine, Harry and Heath. But one face she recognized the most, was Mr. Brandon Buchanan, white pale as a ghost. But this time, it was different, they were different. In black and red, like the walking dead, they had ghostly skin and eyes.

"Are they after peace or poison?" Callie murmured, obviously freaked out. In a split second, the temperature felt like it dropped twenty degrees, it was chilling. Callie felt herself have goosebumps, she started to shiver.

Tiny drops of rain fall from the sky, splitter splattering on her weary head. Callie looked up, having her face wet, the shivers seem to be leaving her body. A gaze above a the beautiful rainy night sky; blues, pinks, and yellows cutting through the sparkly sky. Flicker, flutter, flash and flare, they eat the night alive. Familiar face, but unrecognized pressences were about. No one to keep her calm, to ease her fears away. She dreaded the dark, cold and stark. Neon was her nightlight.

"You're just a litte too bitter", there went Easy again, with that line that started to get annoying. "Try being a little sweeter," Celine spoke, looking a little spaced out. But of course, even in Callie's dreams, her voice was still high and squeaky. "Everything would be much better," Brett spoke, Heath continued, "Don't mind the chilly weather.". Then Callie thought, what the hell? Heath was out of place, don't mind the chilly weather? "Do the things that would keep the two of you together." Harry and his still sweaty head came out from behind Heath.

"Eh?" Callie raised her brows, wondering what the hell they were talking about. They all sounded like zombies, Callie felt like running away, but her feet seemed to have been glued to the ground. Callie looked around, looking for something or someone to help her get out of there. A touch of warmth sent chills to her bone, a hand on her shoulder, it felt so weird. Callie turned around to see who it was, a little scared. It was Brandon. Brandon Buchanan. "Don't mind them. Go forth to where you're happier." His voice barely able to be heard. And then Callie wondered, why was Brandon saying this? Why was Brandon the one trying to calm her down and Easy scaring the hell out of her? Wasn't Easy supposed to be the comforting her and not Brandon? This dream was fucked up, Callie wanted to wake up.

"Wh--What?" Callie asked in confusion. She had no idea about what Brandon was saying. No, she had no idea about what ALL of them were saying. Nothing made sense. Brandon held her hand, squeezing it tightly. His hands were dry, and rough, just like how she remembered. But the only difference was now it was kind of cold, really really cold. "Trust me. Be happy." Brandon let go of her, and walked away. Callie watched him fade into the distance. Callie would've cried, if only her tear glands weren't frozen.

Callie turned around, looking for her zombie friends. Everyone else was gone, everyone else except for Easy. Easy didn't look scary anymore, he looked normal than ever. In his hand he held a boquet of roses, and giant placard that had "I'm sorry" painted on with Easy's calligraphy. Callie smiled, tears ice cold falling off her cheeks. But as he walked towards Callie, the roses started to wilt and die. The beautifully painted "I'm sorry" turned into crimson, dark blood red. One thing that caught Callie's attention, was Easy's eyes. They were shining beautifully, but the moment he held her, they turned red rimmed, with Caddy's face in his pupils. Callie felt her heart skip a beat, her stomach drop and she started shaking.

The night sky turned grey and the trees all withered. The leaves fell off making it look more eerie than before. Then again the line "You're just a little too bitter" started repeating. Starting off really soft untill it became so loud it was deafening. Callie covered her ears and tried to bare the noise as she watches Brandon fade away. Easy kept getting closer, and everytime he gets closer, he becomes more battered and bruised. When Easy was finally next to her, both of them were bleeding. Together they were handcuffed, and Brandon appeared again. He was looking very peaceful. He kept saying the same thing over and over again untill he faded away again.

The campus started to look like it was compressing, getting smaller and more uncomfortable. Callie and Easy, together handcuffed, and bleeding. There seemed to be no more possible oxygen to take in.

The night engulfed the two and left nothing but a black background, cemented floors and drips of blood. A lot of blood.

- - - - -

"Callie? Callie? Callie!" Catherine said, waking Callie up. "What?" Callie sat up immediately, shocking herself with a headache. "You've been having a bad dream." Catherine said, handing Callie a glass of water. "Oh." Callie pretended like she didn't know, and just drank the water. That dream had to be the most traumatizing in her entire life. Everything was just, all so... different... and dark.

Dream on I

2008-12-20T21:16:00.003+08:00

St. Lucius' quad seemed even greener with the sunlight. But it's weird how the sun still shined even if it was raining. Callie was walking down the catwalk, the sight of students running around in the quad despite the drizzle was what she was focused on. Then a familiar head started bobbing through the crowd-- it was Brett. Brett was carrying her books for english lit. They had the same class, so Callie wondered why she had forgotten to bring hers too. Right before Callie could open her mouth to call out Brett, Brett yelled, "Callie! Wait up!". Brett ran towards Callie, her english lit book swaying along with her hand. "Hey. What's up?" Callie smiled flimsily, trying to ignore the slight pinch her stomach was gicing off.

"Do you have materials of english lit?" Brett asked.

"I don't even have my book for english lit." Callie said with a half smirk. "And I didn't even know we needed that shit today." Callie said, laughing.

"Well, I wouldn't be scurrying all the way to the nearest bookstore if we didn't need them today, would I?" Brett answered sarcastically.

"Fuckshit. I don't have my book, I have none of the materials, the bookstore's what 500 meters away, and I'm seriously hungry? What else could go wrong?" Callie really was hungry. She hadn't eaten anything since last night. She ditched breakfast 'cause she was running late, and she ditched recess 'cause she had to her Bio essay.

They headed to the bookstore, walking quickly so that they wouldn't get soaked by the drizzling rain that seemed to rain harder. It's been quite a while since Callie's seen Easy. It was quite a while since Callie's even talked to Easy. Where could Easy be? Could he be out in the woods ditching class riding Credo again? Or was he out hanging out in the stables again?

"Bee?" Callie asked. Her voice was soft, and surprisingly sounded a little sweet.

"Yeah?" Brett said as they walked up the steps.

"Have you seen Easy lately? Or Harry, even?" Callie hasn't seen Easy or Harry. It was impossible that they were making out, right? Easy would never do that, would he?

"Easy? No. Maybe he's hiding, or something like that. Harry? Nope. Haven't seen him in a while." Brett said as she blew her gum into a bubble.

They reached the top of the steps and fell in line. A familiar little head popped out from all the senoirs that were chatting in line. He was a small guy, sweaty head, looked like a seventh grade-- wait a minute, that was Harry. What could Harry be possibly doing here, arms spread wide, blocking the Kennedy Hall?

"Harry?" Callie called out. Brett was in line, so that she could by the materials they needed for english lit. "What are you doing?" Callie laughed at how small Harry's arm span was that he couldn't even fill in half the huge arch of Kennedy Hall.

"What are you doing here Callie? Aren't you supposed to be waiting for us in the canteen?" Harry said. Us? Who was he referring to? Did that mean that Easy was with him?

Brett finally came back, handing Callie the materials. "What are you doing?" Brett practically laughed at Harry. He was sweating even more than the usual, as if he were nervous. Come to think of it, it was like he was hiding something.

"It'd be better if you guys just left." Harry finally put down his arms, trying to push Brett and Callie away.

"Look, midget. This ain't funny, so spill. What the hell are you doing? And what the hell are you hiding?" Callie said, with a sense of authority in her voice.

"Nothing you should know. Trust me, you DON'T want to know." Harry quickly entered Kennedy Hall and started screaming. "Damn Easy, luck ain't on your side. I'm gonna run, before Callie kills me."

"Harry must be tricking us, like he always does." Callie said she and Brett walked further in the dark Kennedy Hall. Callie couldn't really see what was inside, all she saw was Brett staring straight at something and Harry running out. "What's with--" Callie stopped as Brett dropped her jaw. Callie stood still, following Brett's stare.

"If you consider that," Brett pointed at a sillhouette of two people on a bench, making out, " tricking, then I guess.." Brett tlted her head slightly. Callie couldn't recognize who were these two love birds. But hey, talk about making out, the place was pretty secluded, pretty smart. "Holy fucking son of a bitch." Callie half whispered. "Shit?" Callie fell to her knees, her head in her hands, crying.

"Easy, how much of an ass are you?" Brett called out, sounding furious. It was nice to know that Brett knew how Callie felt, and she sympathized her, but that wasn't enough to heal the pain Callie felt. "And you, Caddy. You slut faced hoe bag, don't you know your limits?" Brett raised her hands to the air, and dropped them in a split second, her hands making a little slapping sound on her hips. "Hey, you know what? Get a room!" Callie finally stood up, speaking out, almost screaming, furious, frustrated, and felt like she had the will to kill someone.

Callie walked towards Easy, feeling even weaker than ever. She cried, and looked at him in the eye. "I hate you." The words escaped from Callie's mouth, making Callie feel her heart drop. She started hitting and slapping Easy, with all her strength, she looked crazy. Easy held her, taking control of her. Callie felt the warmth of his hands seep into her skin, she couldn't help but fell like she was melting. "I'm sorry." Easy paused, looking her straight in the eye. "You're just a little too bitter." He continued. What the hell was he talking about? What? Callie was bitter? "Why don't you wake up?"

Callie felt like she was being sucked into a black hole, but with beaming lights blinding her eyes. "Why don't you wake up?"

"Wake up, Wake up, Wake up..." It echoed.

Callie opened her eyes, to her surprise, it was Dorota. Dorota was waking her up, and when she looked at the clock, it was 5:46. Her heart was beating fast, her palms sweaty. In fact, she was sweating, even if it was about to be winter and the AC was on.

"It was.. just a dream? A nightmare." Callie shook her head, still can't believe that all that was just a dream. Everything felt so real, it looked so real, it sounded so real. How could nightmares be dreams if they aren't exactly dreamy?

The Ana Returns.

2008-12-15T20:16:00.006+08:00

Remember the time when a little around sixth grade when itty bitty Callie here was visited by our friend Ana? Well, Ana's been gone for a while. Probably went on vacation, but now that's she's back, she brought along a familiar friend of hers, Mia.

Last night's disturbing scene of undigested food dump hasn't been what Callie has been expecting for sweet dreams. After a nice meal of grilled chicken and salad, Callie felt satisfied. But a little later in the evening, her stomach started twirling and twisting and screaming out for help, but Callie ignored the pain. She's been through slitting her wrist with a kitchen knife, she's gotten her ankle slit almost to the bone and she's hit her head several times on the wall, so there was no way a little teeny tummy ache couldn't be tolerable.

It was a little around past eleven in the morning. The sun was out, everyone was awake and people in New York were all getting busy; everyone except Callie though. Callie Vernon was still asleep, faced down to the pillows, and despite the terrible heat and noise, still under the sheets sleeping like a baby. But don't be fooled, she may be sound asleep, but she isn't sleeping in peace really. She felt drowsy, and drunk, and like she had a hangover--again. The sight of her own vomit and the killing feel of her abdominal pain made her feel like she was right about just dying. Nothing was clear, her vision was blurred and everything else seemed to be moving around her. She sat up, trying to get herself a little more lively. It was the last few days of fall, in a week it would be winter. That's why Callie wondered why her skin felt hot and sweaty when she all she was wearing was a pair of navy blue J. Crew mini shorts and a thin dirty white Gap tank top. She was in her most comfortable clothes already, not to mention the part where she had her hair tied up to a loose ponytail, it was impossible for her to feel this sick. Callie was having a headache, the temperature of her body made it worse, and the discomfort she had in her stomach didn't help any better. Callie looked around the room, to her surprise it was a in a huge mess. Dorota must have forgot to tidy up again. Callie brushed her hand against her stomach, trying to ease the pain a little, and as she raised her hand up, she noticed how icky and wet it felt. What happened? What happened last night? What happened to her?

"Callie. Good thing you're awake." Catherine leaned on the doorway. As usual, Catherine looked gorgeous. Her hair was neatly tied into a ponytail, wearing her Earl jeans and black Guess camisole, her face lightly brushed with a little bronzer, and her lips painted a vibrant red. Catherine looked really simple, but she still kind of looked like a movie star who had just sneaked out of her shoot, and Callie was jealous of that.

"What. Are you doing. Here?" Callie said, her voice barely escaping her throat. Her throat felt dry, and it hurt a little. Callie felt weak that she couldn't even sit up properly.

"Aunt Demi called me. Good thing I was in town, so i hurried over here." Catherine smiled sheepishly.

"What?

"Have you been taking in alcohol? Or drugs? Or whatever?" This could not be happening. Did Catehrine really think she was addicted to alcohol? Or even worse, drugs?

"What? No." Callie said, shocked. How could Catherine think she was an addict? What's next? Rehab?

"Then why have you been vomiting the whole night? Catherine interrogated.

"What? I didn't even know I had a puking session last night." It was true. Callie didn't know that she's been vomiting for the past fourteen hours until just now. What did it have to take for Catherine to believe her? "I just remember pigging out on the food last night, nothing more." Callie continued.

"Oh. Don't tell me, Ana's back again isn't she?" Catherine said. At first, Callie thought, who the hell was Ana? And then she remembered, she was a victim of that psycho bitch crack crud. Callie traced back deep into her memory, she's defeated Ana. She's defeated Ana not too long ago. Callie's been through so much, and she couldn't help but ask what the hell was wrong this time? She's been to sessions with her doctor, and shes been forced to eat most of the time. She knew that she once overcame Ana, but now, Ana's back again?

"No, it can't be." Callie said as she watched Catherine strut out of the room. The door shut closed, and Callie had her head in her hands. Was Ana back? Ana was really back? And this time, it looks like Ana's up for a fight.

"Get dressed, Madame Catherine say." Dorota came rushing through the door, as usual, not knocking. "Huh? Why?" Callie still felt really sick, in fact ten times worse than a while ago. The thought of having the silly illness back made her even more sick, not that she still isn't. "Madame Callie go to doctor."

- - - - -

They arrived in the hospital. Callie got off as Catherine stopped by the front door. Catherine shifted the gear and started to find somewhere to park. Callie went straight to the reception area. "Doctor Fletcher please? I believe I have an appointment?" Callie didn't know if she really did have an appointment, but she assumed she did. The pretty nurse called Dr. Fletcher's assistant via telephone. "Fifth floor, room 303.".

Callie got out of the elevator, looking from left to right. The place seemed familiar, not too long ago Callie's been here, confirmed that she was anorexic. Her feet thumped on the linoleum floor as she walked towards room 303. She put her bare hands against the cold metal and twisted open the seemingly ancient oak wood door. "Doctor Fletcher?" Callie peeked through the door to see Doctor Fletcher filing her nails. "Vernon? Ah! Calliena! Sit, sit!" Doctor Fletcher said a little joyously, as if she were happy to see Callie flying in telling her she's got Ana back again. "Callie." Callie corrected her.

So Callie told Doctor Fletcher her odd tale. She told her how she gradually reduced eating once, then suddenly started pigging out, and then not a few hours again, she woke up having an extreme headache, an empty and painful stomach and puke all around her. Disgusting, yes. But Callie didn't even know that happened, she just woke up finding out that it already did happen without her even knowing. Or maybe her memory was just flushed by all the discomfort she felt that night? Either way, she couldn't remember anything, and that was the main point. She didn't know why she puked, she didn't know why she was feeling this way, and clearly she didn't know if Ana came back to her.

"You haven't been eating." A while ago's cheerfulness suddenly transited to a gloomy almost serious stand.

"I can't. I'm too busy with school, and stuff more important then--" Callie paused. she shouldn't say there was something more important than food, even if it was true, or else the doctor would say Ana came back. "I'm busy with school, i can't even sleep."

"Remember a few months back, you've met someone named Ana. You thought she'd make you happy and pretty and make you worth something?"

"I've left Ana. I'm good now."

"She's coming for you again, Callie. But this time, she doesn't want you to know."

"So you're saying I'm anorexic again? But that can't be true. I've cared less about how I weigh."

"You said it yourself, you merely care less about how you weigh. But you still care."

"What? So I'm not supposed to care?"

"Of course not, but I'm just trying to stress that sure, you care less now, but that doesn't mean you still don't care too much."

"And you've been bulimic lately?"

"I'm bulimic?"

"You've had times when you just want to eat, but then no matter how much you like the food, you tend to vomit, right?

"No?" Callie lied.

"You're lying." How could the doctor just see right through her? Was she really that bad of a liar?

"You think your fat. You're conscious. Too much worrying about your weight and size causes you to be stressed. It makes you believe that you are fat, even if you aren't. Your body adapts. It adapts to what your mind is saying, so now you're unconsciously being concerned about your weight and size. "

"Eh?"

"You don't notice these changes because you're busy. Your puking sessions, and your unconscious self starvation has triggered mild ulcer for you."

"Ulcer? What the hell? You must be kidding."

Callie stared at the doctor, still unable to believe that she was diagnosed with ulcer. How could that happen? Well sure, she hasnt been eating, neither has there been enough food in her stomach, but still. The matter of time was so short for her to have ulcer.

"Well, I'm sorry to say that I'm not kidding Callie."

"So, I'm gonna die? Great. I havent even finished seventh grade and I'm gonna die?"

"Everyone's gonna die, but we just don't know when. You will die, but hopefully not in the near future. But if you do, it won't be because of your ulcer."

Callie fiddled with her fingers, not knowing of what t do. She was anorexic, she was flunking her subjects and she has ulcer? What else could go wrong and screw up her already screwed up life?

"Take these. " Doctor Fletcher handed her a prescription of medicines she was to take. "Eat on time. Drink a lot of water so you don't get dehydrated. Avoid sodas ..." And the next things Callie heard was bla bla bla. Callie didn't give a damn whatever the doctor had to say to add up to whatever she was going through. She had ulcer, she was anorexic, what's next, brain tumor? Callie's palms were sweating, and they were shaking too. Callie could feel her ears cold, her eyes were about to burst to tears. She was sad, it was bad enough that she couldn't be with her friends, with Easy 'cause she might be moving next year, but that for dying because of some illness? Callie was terrified, she didn't know what to do? How was she supposed to eat on time when she was anorexic? That made no sense, but I suppose eating was really the only cure.

________________________________

EasyWalsh: Hey, what's up with the stat? Are you okay?
CVernon: If I was, my stat wouldn't be like that. Would it?
EasyWalsh: Well, no.
EasyWalsh: Hey, what's wrong? Really bad stomach ache? Maybe you just need to do your business, if you know what I mean.
CVernon: Damn. You suck. *laughing emoticon*
CVernon: You're the first one to make me laugh today, BTW. I owe you.
EasyWalsh: Oh really. Naaah, bail it. You don't owe me nothing.
CVernon: I went to the doctor a while ago. Well, actually, I just came from the doctor.
EasyWalsh: Oh. Then?
CVernon: I have ulcer. Mild ulcer.
EasyWalsh: You haven't been eating, it's not really surprising.
CVernon: Well, yeah. It's because...
EasyWalsh: What? Because what?
CVernon: I'm.. you know. Well, let's just say Ana's come to visit again, and I think she's staying. *straight face emoticon*
EasyWalsh: Damn.
EasyWalsh: You really should get eating, you could die.
CVernon: But. I wanna lose some pounds.
EasyWalsh: What the hell? You're skinny, and not healthy skinny.
CVernon: No Im not. Just a little more weight loss, then I'm good.
EasyWalsh: You don't know what you're talking about. You have to eat.
CVernon: It's just a few more pounds.
EasyWalsh: Yeah, a few more pounds 'til you die.
EasyWalsh: You gotta get cured, and that's only if you gain a little more weight.
CVernon: No fucking way.
EasyWalsh: You have to.
CVernon: But I don't want to.
EasyWalsh: You need to.
CVernon: I still don't want to.
EasyWalsh: I will personally volunteer to watch your diet. For you to get rid of Ana, you're gonna have to make her go away, 'cause she's not leaving unless you force her to.
CVernon: But how am I supposed to do that? I can't gain anymore pounds, I'd be overweight.
EasyWalsh: You'd be normal. You're underweight.
CVernon: How do you know?
EasyWalsh: I just do. I bet I could even carry you.
CVernon: No you can't. I'm heavy.
EasyWalsh: Yes I can.
CVernon: No you can't.
EasyWalsh: You're gonna get rid of Ana, okay? I'm gonna help you through it. But you'll never get through it if you don't help yourself.
CVernon: *sigh emoticon*
CVernon: Okay, thanks. a lot.
________________________________

The blind can see.

2008-12-15T14:25:00.002+08:00

The seemingly glimmering spectacles of light seemed to be dancing around gracefully as Callie opened her eyes. But after a while of breathing and staring at the window, Callie came to realize that it was dust being lighted by the sunlight from the windows. Callie sat up, straightening her back and balancing her weary head. As Callie scoped the room, the clock caught her eye. Eventually the blinking red light lines were telling it was already 6:48. Callie let out a loud sigh and jumped off her bed. Was it really time to go to school already? Last night's session of video editing and information finding felt like it was never going to come to an end. They had to make a presentation about the different cultures in main land China for their lesson in World History. She stayed up to 2 am just to finish the stupid short film. But to see that all the time and hard work that took her to finish the film be placed just into one blank CD-ROM just made her frustrated.

- - - - - - - - -

"Get out your handbooks, please read chapters seven to fourteen and write a..." Mr. Wilde didn't have the heart to greet the class and all he did was proceed with homework. "Mr. Wilde's in a bad mood again, eh?" Callie commented to herself as she took out her handbook and started writing down the said assignment. "Mr. Wilde, why do we have discuss homework already when we've barely started class?", someone from the rear of the classroom called out. "Wait for the announcements." Mr. Wilde said with a grin. "Suspension.", Callie heard a few voices say in unison. The speaker by the left of the classroom started to give off static sounds. "Attention, attention.", The speaker announced. "All classes for today for all levels of St. Lucius Academy will be suspended due to the mishap of the weather. Please leave the campus immediately and go straight to your humble abodes.", the speaker sounded. "Fuck?" Callie immediately as she heard this. Callie hated being at home. As much as possible, she wanted to stay out of the house. It was always so boring, and since she had no siblings, there was no one really sensible to talk to. And all Dorota would have to say was how important it was to keep the house clean and dust free. Sure, sometimes it could be fun helping out with the chorese, but usually, its sucks like hell. The bell rang, and the student's sound of dragging chairs and chitter and chatter filled the air in an instant. Callie went out of the classroom and stood by for Brett. "You going home, B?" Callie asked Brett as they walked down the steps. "Yeah, unfortunately." Brett said, obviously bummed about going home as well. "Oh. Okay." Callie said as she eyed Easy and Celine together. What were they doing together? No, she wasn't jealous. But Callie could just remember how during fourth and fifth grade, Caline hated Easy twice as much as she did. And now they're best friends? Sure, way to go Callie. You got Celine to not hate Easy. "Callie!", Celine called out. Callie tried to hide from her wicked minded friend, but there was no one else around and she figured that maybe they had something better to do than go home. "I'm gonna go. Y!IM tonight?" Brett said as she waved goodbye. Callie nodded, then looked at Celine. "What?" Callie asked Celine sounding a little flat and bored. "You're going home?" Celine asked, as she slightly hit Easy on the arm. "I guess. I've got nothing to do here anyway." Callie explained. "Oh Okay then. Bye!" Celine said as if she were happy that Callie would be leaving. "Bye." Callie's voice barely whispered. She gave Easy a look trying to say What the hell?, but Easy didn't notice 'cause he was too busy talking to Drew Gately, his ivory skinned brunette boarding school fit looking friend. Callie walked further away from Celine, Easy and Drew and went home.

The rain started to splatter harder as Callie walked home. Home was only a few blocks away from St. Lucius, so she figured that it'd be saving money, the environment and it'd be killing the fat that layed still in her physique. "I'm home!" Callie said as the slamming screen door sounded behind her. "Callie!" Phillipe Mherscabits, her uncle on her father's side stood up and gave her a huge smile. "Oh, Hey." Callie greeted as she dropped her bags on the bare floor. "I passed by to bid farewell. I have a flight at 6 pm, and I was about to leave 'cause I wasn't really expecting you. I was expecting you to be in school. Why're you home so early?" he asked. "Oh. Classes suspended due to the weather." Callie said as she pointed out the window. "It's not even raining." Aunt Demi peaked outside to have a better view. "My point exactly." Callie commented. "Oh. Wait. You're leaving? Why're you gonna bid farewell? Callie asked her uncle. "I'm going across the country, I have work waiting for me.", he said. "But, don't you get a vacation or something?" Callie insisted that he'd stay. "Naah. I've been on vacation for a month, and they need me back there." He paused and checked his phone. "I've got to go." He stood up and headed towards the door. "I wanna come!" Callie stood up enthusiasticly and smiled like a five year old school girl.

Callie was listening to Bob Dylan on the way to the airport. The airport was around a thirty minute drive, t'was not that long, but the traffic jam just seemed to worsen her iPod would play the next song. As she was muching on a box of chocolate coated strawberries, her left earphone suddenly dropped. As she licked off the chocolate off her fingers, she couldn't help but over hear what Uncle Phillipe and Aunt Demi were talking about. It was shocking, really. A little revelation she wished she had never heard. Callie put the left ear phone back on, but put down the volume low enough so that she could hear what ever else they had to talk about. Sure, sure, call it eavesdropping, but in this case, Callie wouldn't give a damn if it hadn't have to do anything with her, or at least her parents.

"You know what Philippe, if only we didn't owe that son of a bitch practically our lives, I wouldn't have even given him respect. If only it hadn't been this way after so long, I would've kicked the balls out of him." Aunt Demi said, obviously mad. Who in the world was she talking about? Maybe it's that grand uncle of hers-- the one that handles Callie's finances. Callie's been hearing stuff from Dorota that he's been screwing up all over the monery her parents sent her, but what the hell? It's Dorota, why listen? But now that aunt Demi's said it herself, Callie's come to think that maybe it is true.

"Well, He is our uncle. We can't deny the fact that we our blood."

"Screw that. If he's blood, he shouldn't be snagging the money Carmen sends Callie."

"What's he been doing anyway? I don't seem to follow."

"Don't you know? The moment Carmen let that old coot handle Callie's finances, he did nothing but use it to buy his scents of Guess and Ralph Lauren. Fucking old bastard."

Callie, at that moment, was shocked. First of all, she never heard Aunt Demi curse that much, and second, by how stupid her mother was to not realize that her own uncle was stealing from her, Tsk.

"How'd you know anyway? Give him the benefit of the doubt, he might be getting rich."

"Rich? That fucking old fag is an insurance agent of whatever company? He pays taxes, bills, gas, and whatever else shit he has to attend to? You think he can save that much to buy some fucking perfume? Or some designer clothing? Or a new house? Or a new car? A touch screen PC, and a $20,000 worth television? All at the fucking same time?"

"You can't blame Carmen for trying not to see whatever Albert's doing with her money. Yeah, I noticed that he has a lot of expensive and branded clothing lately. I was getting suspiscious as well, he holds Carmen's credit cards and ATM right?"

"Hell yeah."

"Well. Albert here really has been a parent to us. Ever since Mom left us for her job in Italy, he served as our father. He did feed us, bathe us, clothe us and spend his own money to educate us despite the fact he was still taking his masterals."

"That's not the point here Phillipe. It's the fact that that old fag is stealing money from our sister, and our neice."

"You know the other day, Callie was stayed up late for typing some homework of hers. It was a mishap that the printer broke down. Callie asked him if he could print it, but guess what he said? He said that Callie's homework would be a waste of ink and paper? And you call that blood? If it's blood, then why be greedy about simple ink and paper? Phillipe, that man needs rehab."

"I know that Richard knows. I talked to him the other day, but he's furious. But he doesn't want to get involved into our family's business."

"I pity Callie. She knows nothing about what he's doing."

"Why not tell her?"

"And make her go berserk and not concentrate on her studies? 'Sides, she doesn't have to know just yet."

Too bad Aunt Demi. Callie just found out. Callie stared out the window, teary eyed in anger. She knew what was really going on, now she understands.

"We can't do anything. Let's just hope that Callie's papers get processed fast. She needs to leave for France or somewhere else. The kid's living a living hell here."

They parked and Uncle Phillipe got off. "Bye Callie." He smiled and waved. Callie waved back, and focused on the moving vehicles in front of them. Callie had no idea on what she was going to say or do. So Dorota was right. She was right. Their speculations were right. Her grand uncle Albert was the great theft who was stealing her parents' money. No wonder he'd always get mad if Callie would ask for extra money for outings and extra school stuff.

I just can't turn off the radio.

2008-12-14T00:37:00.004+08:00

How far would you go to get back something that you found very valuable to you? Would you just let it go and get a new one? Or would you call a radio station and announce to the public that you want it back? Whether it's 'Out with the old and in with the new' or a public announcement, one thing's for sure, you've done something that would benefit you.

The smell of hot dogs and burgers filled the air as the canteen guy started cooking. The chitter chatter of the St. Lucius dolphins gradually grew louder as all of them started coming in the cafeteria. Callie was walking out of the cafeteria with Brett; lucky them Mr. Dalton let them out ten minutes early. So the fresh food the cafeteria served was all to themselves. "Callie!!" Who was this small guy running towards her? Oh. It was Harry. And surprisingly, he was with Heath. How'd that happen? Heath loathed Harry. "Harry, what is wrong with you? Who died? Why are you screaming? Speak, little boy." Callie said, wondering why the way Harry approached her was as if he had something important to say. "Easy," Harry paused and tried to breathe. It was his fault he kept running, now he's hypervantilating. "What about him? He's dead? He's got a new girl? He's become black? What the hell happened to Easy?" Callie said. But then she noticed that that came out wrong and made her sound concerned. She wasn't supposed to be concerned. She was supposed to be moving on, without him. It's been around three days since they've broken up, and she was kind of getting used to calling him her "ex" and avoiding him. "No. You have to take Easy back." Harry said, sounding a little worried. "Have you read his blog?" Harry continued. "Yeah?" Callie answered confused. "He was going suicidal. Is he?" Callie asked, concerned. And again, she wasn' supposed to do that. If she was going to move on, she was going to have to not be concerned about Easy, in any way. "Yeah, but there's more. He wants you back, he needs you." Harry said, explaining. "What?" Callie didn't seem to follow. What was Harry talking about? She could accept the fact that Easy wanted her back, but him needing her back sounded a bit too much. "Easy hasn't been himself lately, it's scary." Harry took a pause, "He's practically begging you to come back.". "No he isn't." Callie insisted. Easy wasn't begging, he hasn't even spoken to her. "Did you listen to Slick Rick, Tony Tony and Sam YG last night?" Harry asked, suddenly changing the topic. "No. I was sleeping. What the hell?" Callie answered. "Oh. Well, Easy called them. He was asking for help. He explained everything, and when they asked him if you were still his girl, he said that you were but you didn't know. He said that on national radio, Callie. Even Mr. Furrow heard it last night." Harry said as he gestured like he was begging her to take Easy back. "What? He did what? No way. you must be kidding." Callie couldn't believe that Easy did that. Why? So he really did want her back? Darn. Later on that evening, Callie received a message from Celine.

________________________________

CelCol: Cal, come join the conference.
CVernon: With who?
CelCol: Someone I'd like to introduce to you.
CVernon: Oh.
CVernon: Okay.
CelCol: Promise me you won't leave. If you do, I'd hate you. Heath, Ryan, Harry and Brett would hate you.
CVernon: Fine.
________________________________

CelCol: Okay, Easy she's here.
CVernon: You suck Colista.
CelCol: Callie, meet Easy Walsh. He belongs to I-F, born on the 21st of April, likes playing vdeo games, he plays the bass, and he's been madly in love with you ever since.
CVernon: Uhm? Hi? Easy? I think we've met.
EasyWalsh: Callie. I'm sorry.
EasyWalsh: I didn't mean to say that I didn't trust you. I just didn't want to lose you.
EasyWalsh: I didn't realize that you were slowly moving away from me.
CVernon has left the conference.
________________________________

CelCol: Get back in there woman!
CVernon: I don't think that would be necessary.
CelCol: Easy fucking needs you, don't you have any mercy?
CVernon: Stay out of this, Celine. I'm on it.
________________________________

CVernon: So what were you saying?
EasyWalsh: Thank God you're speaking to me again.
CVernon: Start talking or else I'm leaving.
EasyWalsh: Ok.
EasyWalsh: I'm sorry for acting like an ass. I didn't mean it to get to you that way.
EasyWalsh: I love you, and I didn't really mean to hurt you.
CVernon: ?
EasyWalsh: I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to lose you, I was afraid.
CVernon: 'nough said.
EasyWalsh: No, wait. Please, stay?
CVernon: Okay so. I think I want to give us another try?
EasyWalsh: Really? Thank God. I'm so sorry.
CVernon: Hey, I'm sorry for hurting you.
EasyWalsh: No. I'm sorry for over reacting.
CVernon: Apology accepted.
CVernon: But the next time things go wrong, there's no turning back, alright?
EasyWalsh: Okay.
CVernon: Just, promise me your jealousy won't go this far again?
EasyWalsh: I'll try.
CVernon: You are so lucky I can't resist you.
EasyWalsh: Yes I am.
________________________________

Callie had just told Easy that next time something goes wrong, it'd really be the end. But what if next time happened too soon? Now that everything's back to normal again, what else did fate have in line for them to handle. From jealousy, to acceptance, what else did they have to get through? Callie never thought that there was a guy on this earth who'd make her up as a big deal, and to think about it, Callie too never ever wanted to lose Easy. He was the only who'd she'd feel safe with, who made her laugh out of the randomest of things. Easy made her stomach feel queesy-- in a good way, and he always made her feel wanted. Like she had worth in this world full of judgement and misery.

Poison Envy.

2008-12-13T11:26:00.003+08:00

Callie's headache was inevitably inhumane. It's weird how sufficient sleep made her body malfunction. The last moments of last night's crying scene was all a blur. The tears made her vision unclear, all that was recognizable was the lights and the voice of Rihanna, Chris Brown and Daughtry. Probably the only thing missing to make Callie pass out last night was a whole bottle of Evian and some few shots of vodka. Nonetheless, without the alcohol, she felt like she already did have a hang over. Waking up to a really bad headche, with rain pouring heavily on the rooftop making splattering noises and a sudden twist in her appetite, Callie felt she just wanted to stay in bed, her face in her pillows wrapped in up her wooly blanket her dad got her when he visited Korea. "Madame Callie, time to get up. You have class, and Miss Brett wait for you in school. She call." Dorota did really have to take away her urge to sleep in today, did she? "I don't want to go to school today, Dorota. Maybe tomorrow. Just tell Brett that I'd go to school tomorrow. Tell her I'm sick." Callie raised her heavy head a little, as she tried to focus her vision on Dorota who seemed to be cleaning by the end table. Dorota swiftly pulled aside the curtains, making the annoying sunlight seep into the used to be dark room. "You fall asleep with your chocolates again." Dorota handed Callie the half empty pack of chocolates. Callie grabbed the half empty pack of chocolates and put it next to her. "Lady Godiva, my only friend." Callie sighed loudly with a faint smile painted on her lips. She grabbed the end of her blanket and covered her head under the sheets. "Up, up, up." Dorota said as she clapped everytime she said, 'up'. Dorota pulled the blanket away from Callie and pulled her up. Callie sat up, her eyes still closed, and her body still trying to wake up.

- - - -

"Sorry." Callie apologized to the sixth grader when she accidentally bumped into him. How couldn' she bump into him when he mind was asleep and her eyes were practically falling. Going to school was not fun when you're avoiding someone. As Callie walked across the wet quad, eyeing Brett reading on the bench. "Callie?" Brett left her book and ran towards Callie. "Are you okay?" Brett asked, while she pat Callie on the shoulders like a mother. "No." Callie sighed. "Seriously, you didn't have to ask that question." Callie added. "Sorry." Brett apologized. "How'd you know? How does everyone in I-C look at me like that," Callie pointed at her classmates, "like they know?" Callie didn't tell anyone about what happened last night. Well, not in detail, she just said that something was put to and end. "Your stat last night explained everything." Brett answered softly. As they walked towards where I-C left their bags, she received comments like, "It's ok." or "You'll get through it", from people like Whitney Khors, Tinsley, Cassiopoea, Anne and Rifat. But when it came to Solomon and Julian, all they said was, "He did that 'cause he loved you." Yeah, loveD. He loveD her.

"What happened last night?" Was it really that hard to say 'good morning' or 'hi' before Brandon could start interrogating her? "What do you mean?" Callie tried to act like she didn't know what he was talking about, but apprantly he knew. "Don't act like you don't know. What happened?" Brandon insisted. "How'd you know?" Callie gave up. She didn't want to argue in the early morning, she wasn't in the mood to do so. "Duh. Your stat last night? 'It's officially over'?" Brandon paused. "So, what happened?" He asked again. He didn't have to know, did he? Okay, so he kind of was the reason why, but... she'd prefer he didnt know. And when Callie opened her mouth attempting to speak, Brandon said, "I have to know because rumor has it I'm the reason why you guys splt. So spill." Brandon ordered. "Well," Callie took a pause and thought if she should tell everything, "let's just say that he has issues with you being my seatmate." Callie said. "That's it?" Brandon asked, as if he found the reason shallow. "He.. thinks that I might like you?" Callie said, a little embarrassed. "Then?" Was it really imperative that Callie answered his every question about this? The topic was kind of fragile and she wasn't in the mood to talk about it, but Brandon did have a point. He was kind of part of it, so he had the right to know. "I.. got annoyed. Like, I felt that he didn't trust me when I said that I dont and wont like you... so.." And before Callie could even finish, Brandon finished her sentence. "So you broke up with him? For that? Wow." Brandon sounded disappointed. "It was getting on my nerves." Callie tried to explain, but Brandon answered too quickly. "He's a guy. And guy's are always jealous, especially when it comes to their girls." Brandon obviously didn't want to go between Callie and Easy. "I don't kow. I'd rather not talk about it." Callie had to kill that conversation before she'd end up crying. And hell no did she want to be crying during class.

The day went on and all Callie could think about was Easy. She couldn't concentrate well, she felt melancholic and just wanted to go home. Avoiding Easy in the campus for the whole day was really hard. Sure, Harry, Heath, Ryan, Solomon, Julian, and Celine kept persuading Callie to take Easy back 'cause he was depressed, but Callie didn't want to listen. Maybe she was naive, or just insensitive. All she knew was she didn't want to have any contact with Easy at that moment. All she wanted was to live freely, without Easy nagging everytime they'd come across Brandon.

Mr. Brightside, The Killers.

2008-12-10T21:42:00.004+08:00

"Me and Brandon are cool, but there's nothing more than that." Callie Vernon said defensively as she pushed the clicky thing in the old St. Lucius library. "Yeah, I know." Brett said. How did Brett know how Callie felt when it came to guys? It was like Brett was her, but in someone else's body. "I just don't get why Easy keeps making me remember how much stupid I was to fall for Brandon. I mean.." Harry's sweaty head started bobbing through the crowd. And before Callie could even finish what she had been saying, Harry gave her a smile meaning he wanted money. "Fuck off Dillon. I got no change." Callie lied. She had change, but she didn't want to give it to Harry. Harry looked suggestively at Brett, trying to say the same thing. "I'm broke." Brett smiled. "Unlucky day. No money." Harry said, disappointed, like a five year old who lost his candy. "Shut up, Dillon." Callie said, glaring at him. "Whoa, mood swings?" Harry mouthed at Brett. "No, that just happened when you came." Callie smiled. "You hate me now?" Harry asked, as if he were worried. "Uh. Sit down or I will.". "Shhhhhh!" Ms. Rupertuson warned as she passed their table. "It was his fault." Callie and Brett pointed and Harry. "What the--" Harry complained. "Save it for the streets, Mr. Dillon." Ms. Rupertuson gave him a warning look. Once Ms. Rupertuson had left, Callie and Brett continued with their conversation. "So.. Easy's being jealous again?" Harry asked curiously. "I don't know. He isn't.. he's just.. I don't know, being.. uhhm.." Callie didn't know the right words to say. Easy wasn't being jealous, was he? He was just scared that she'd like Brandon again. That was it, right? "Julian used to be like that... 6th grade." Brett changed her focus and stopped reading the book she had in her hands. "Julian?" Callie asked, a little happy that Brett somehow stil reminisced about her and Julian. "Yeah." She trailed off. "He'd get mad if I'd be speaking to Harry too much." Brett half smiled. "Oh! And I remember when you and Easy were chosen to recite the literary piece for English, then Julian was crying.. I think." Callie added. "You were crying too, Cal!" Harry interrupted. "But for a different reason. I didn't even audition for whatever Ms. Horniman wanted people to recite." Callie gave Harry a sarcastic smile, and Harry returned one as well. "Yeah. Julian was overprotective, to the point I felt like I was suffocating." Brett said, sighing. "I really can't believe you just told him you didn't like him anymore." Callie trailed off, Harry nodded in agreement. " I mean, during Party Night, the both of you had your own world. You guys danced the night away. You guys hugged, and when Julian had to leave..." Brett took a glance at Callie, asking her to stop. "I'm sorry, but.." Callie stopped. "You know what, I'll just shut up." Callie smiled. Callie remembered that night so well. It was so dreamy, so perfect. Compared to the party St. Lucius held for them during fifth grade, this one was so much better. She remembered how she and Easy danced the night away, not caring what the hell other people thought. She remembered how Brandon got a boquet of roses for Tinsley, how Julian and Brett acted as if they were official, and how she and Celine danced randomly to the song "Sway". Callie found it ironic that Brett just told Julian she didn't like him anymore, considering the fact that the day after the party, Brett couldn't stop telling Callie how much she wanted to repeat it, over and over again. The day after that party, Brett just said how dreamy the party was, and how she didn't want to wake up. As for Callie, she spent that morning sobbing, tears of joy and sadness, when she and Easy talked about what was going to happen next if she left. "Thank you." Brett smiled as she stood up. "Celine and the rest are probably waiting, don't you think?" Callie stood up as well, and Harry followed.

"Where the fuck have you guys been?" Celine said, obviously pissed off that she had to wait that long. "Library." Callie answered. "Spare change?" Harry came up to Celine, begging like a bum. Celine plunked her hand into her pocket and shuffled some spare quarters and droppd the handful in Harry's disgustingly sweaty palms. "Easy!" Callie, Brett and Celine turned their heads to look as Harry yelled. Easy was walking towards them with Ryan and Heath. So just like before, they had lunch. Though seated in one table, the girls were separated from the boys in terms of worlds. The girls had their own, and the boys had their own. "You're joining the painting contest, Colista?" Callie brought up. Callie couldn't help but notice that Easy was eavesdropping. Tsk. "Are you?" Celine asked back. "Yeah, for fun. I don't wanna attend my clubs." Callie smiled. "Is registration still open?", Celine gave Harry an icy stare as he attempted to steal the fifty bucks that was in Celine's pocket. "I think so." Callie then noticed that the boys had shut up, and as usual, Brett wasn't speaking. "You're joining the painting contest, eh?" Easy said, as if he had meant something else than that. "Yeah?" Callie knew something was up, but she didnt know what exactly. Was is it still about Brandon? "I bet you're just joining 'cause Brandon's there." Easy said. Callie couldn't determine if he was joking or he was serious. "What?" Callie asked in confusion. "Didn't we talk about this already?" Callie asked, a little disappointed with what Easy said. Easy said nothing, he just shrugged. As Easy and Callie exchanged words and practically argued, Brett, Celine, Heath, and Harry just watched them as if it were a tennis match. Uncomfortable silence fell upon them, then Callie stood up. "I think I lost my appetite." Callie put back the chair slowly, her eyes still focused on Easy. "Maybe Brandon could help you with that." Why was Easy acting this way? Why was Easy being so mean? Why was Easy of someone he shouldn't be jealous of? "What?" Callie said, asking him to repeat what he had said. Though she heard him clearly, she wanted him to say it again. "Nothing, I said nothing." Easy said coldly. "Hey, someone stop these two before they start killing each other." Celine said, as she gestured like a referee.

Callie walked away silently, a little cussed out at what Easy had just acted out. They talked about this, what else was missing? What wasn't enough? What did it have to take for him to believe whatever she said about her not liking Brandon? What was happening?

________________________________

CVernon: What the hell happened a while ago?
EasyWalsh: Nothing.
CVernon: What did I do? Or not do? What else do you need?
EasyWalsh: I don't know.
CVernon: What else do have to do to make you believe me that I don't fucking like Brandon?!
EasyWalsh: I don't know.
CVernon: You're impossible.
EasyWalsh: Me?
EasyWalsh: Don't you understand why I'm acting this way?
CVernon: Obviously, no. That's why I AM acting THIS way.
EasyWalsh: I don't know if you're falling for him or not.
EasyWalsh: He's always right next to you, every single day.
EasyWalsh: Then you bonded more when the both of you became representatives for the friggin jingle.
EasyWalsh: He gets to spend every single second with you, while the most I could do is wish to be in his place, right next to you-- right with you.
CVernon: ?
CVernon: But I don't like Brandon. Neither do I love him, in any matter.
EasyWalsh: Yeah, but how would I know if you're falling for him again?
CVernon: I'm not!
EasyWalsh: Easy for you to say.
EasyWalsh: Then you tell me you're joining some contest where Brandon's obviuosly going to join? Fuckshit.
CVernon: I don't seem to follow. What's wrong?
CVernon: I don't like/love Brandon. Neither am I falling for him. And me and Buchanan didn't even talk about joining the contest together. He chose to join by himself, so did I.
EasyWalsh: How am I so sure he won't be all over you?
EasyWalsh: Admit it or not, he IS your first love.
EasyWalsh: And now that you guys are bonding, there's a huge possibility that you'd fall for him again.
EasyWalsh: While I'm just this guy who picks you up when that ass dropped and hurt you. Him being your first love, and me being only you second, it's kind of hard to compete with that.
CVernon: How many times do I have to tell you that I wont?
EasyWalsh: How are you so sure you wouldn't?
CVernon: And plus, you don't even have to compete with him. 'Cause there is no competition.
EasyWalsh: Yeah Right...
CVernon: If ever there were competition,what'd be the prize? Me? Sweetie, you've had me all along.
EasyWalsh: Not before Brandon dumped you. You belonged to him first.
CVernon: We were never officially together. AND, that doesn't even matter. So what if he kinda had me first? It's the present that matters.
CVernon: Easy, I'm with you NOW. What part of that statement do you not understand?
EasyWalsh: And how about tomorrow?
CVernon: You don't have to worry about it. The only way you'd lose me is when I leave or if you cheat.
EasyWalsh: Not when Brandon's around.
CVernon: What the hell is up with you and Brandon?! The guy isn't doing ANYTHING to you!
EasyWalsh: See.. you're defending him now.
CVernon: That's just because you're accusing him something that isn't true.
CVernon: Why can't you just trust me that everything will be ok?
EasyWalsh: I trust you... but not him.
CVernon: Again, Brandon is not doing a thing to you, or me, so what the heck? Leave him alone.
EasyWalsh: So I'm the bad one now? And he gets to be the good guy that gets tormented by the bad guy?
CVernon: You know what, everything's clear. You just don't want to look at it 'cause you keep believing in your delusional ideas.
CVernon: Why are you acting this way? Even if I know that Caddy Ryans is part of whatever whore group and she sits next to you, and I don't know if she's got her mouth all over you, I don't react THAT way. It's way too much.
EasyWalsh: But I don't like Caddy.
CVernon: Neither do I like Brandon.
EasyWalsh: But..
CVernon: But what?
CVernon: If you can't trust me that it'd be ok, and if you can't get your mind set straight, this is never gonna work out.
EasyWalsh: I just.. didn't want..
CVernon: To lose me? Well, here. You just did.
CVernon: Stop typing.
EasyWaslh: What the hell? Callie, listen. I didnt meant to
CVernon: Save it for someone who'd listen.
EasyWalsh: Callie
CVernon: I'm going to give you a whole lot of space and time for you to think about whatever you think about
CVernon: And if everything still feels the same about you, me and us,
CVernon: Come back to me when you know just how you feel.
CVernon has signed out.
________________________________

Callie spent her night crying in tears, blogging continuously about how confused she was of how Easy reacted. Callie felt more depressed than ever. The fluttering sounds of the dancing leaves that hit Callie's windows just made everything else a little more eerie, not to mention more depressing.

Time is telling the wounds to heal.

2008-12-08T19:40:00.002+08:00

"Zack!" Callie Vernon chased Zachary Gates, her old 4th grade friend, across the Stansfield Hall. "Woah! Callie, chill. What's up?" Zack stopped for a while, and looked at her in confusion. "Oh. Hi Cornette!" Callie waved at Zack's girlfriend, Cornette Jones. "Uhm. Wait. Oh yeah! Zack, sorry to waste your time, but do you mind telling me what's your class number?" According to the list St. Lucius had posted a week ago, it says that I-C had only 14 boys. Then Callie started to think, why did they have 15 boys now? She checked their last names carefully, merely just out of curiosity. Rick Ace, the slightly small, and rather cute kid that used to be Celine's classmate, was in I-C, when his name wasn't even on the list. "Oh shoot." Callie said once she realized, because of Rick, Brandon would have to be her seatmate. Callie was fine with that, and she thinks Brandon was too, but it's not them that Callie was worrying about. It was Easy.

Ms. Moss came in the classroom with her everyday, not so sure if she's sincere smile painted on her face. Everyone setlled down, and listened attentively. "Good morning class. I'm Ms. Moss, your adviser, and your Home Economics teacher." She trailed off. "Does she always have to smile that way?" Callie asked Brett whispering. "Maybe." The both of them smirked, trying to control their laughter. "... so, let's fix your seating arrangement." Ms. Moss announced. "Shit.", Callie said. "Uh. I don't wanna have Danny Skunk as a seat mate." Brett said standing up lazily. Callie stood up slowly, carrying her bag outside. Ms. Moss then started calling them in. "Vernon.. next to Buchanan.", she said. Callie took a deep breath and shook her head. She walked to the empty desk next to Brandon, and sat as far as possible. Akward silence for the quarter, eh? I guess that's what's going to happen.

"That was just so weird." Callie said, as she walked side by side with Brett. It was recess, Easy, Celine, Harry and Ryan were waiting outside the classroom. "Double time, bitches." Celine said playfully. Callie should have known it was a joke, but jokes are always half meant, right? Callie was in no mood to be playing around with Celine and her silly schemes. "Something wrong?" Harry asked, finally breaking Callie's silence. "Buchanan." Callie said absent mindedly. "What about the prick?" Easy said, butting in, as if his temper had risen at a thousand times than normal to the sound of Brandon's name, or anything that had to do with Brandon. "Nothing really. He's just my seatmate. Its... uhm.. weird." Callie tried to explain. "It's that Ace guy's fault. Blame him." Easy said, rolling his eyes. "But I guess it's just an opportunity to put things behind, right?" Callie looked at Easy, trying to convince him that it wouldn't be all that bad. "Whatever." Easy said, glaring at Brandon once Brandon walked by. Callie shrugged and just shut up.

________________________________

EasyWalsh has sent you a message.
EasyWalsh: So.. Back on track with Buchanan, now.
EasyWalsh: What's going to happen next?
CVernon: Not really, I don't talk to him. Or have any contact with him.
CVernon: 'Cept of course we have to exchange papers.
EasyWalsh: Why do I have a bad feeling about this?
CVernon: Hey. Listen, I'm over Brandon, okay?
EasyWalsh: You are. What about him?
CVernon: He's been over whatever centuries ago. Chill.
EasyWalsh: *sigh emoticon*
CVernon: Listen, I promise everything will be fine.
EasyWalsh: How are you so sure?
CVernon: I'm not. But I'll make sure it'll work out.
EasyWalsh: What? You and Brandon will work out, huh?
CVernon: No. I meant we'll work out. Us.
EasyWalsh: Yeah, sure.
CVernon: Don't worry about me cheating...
CVernon: ... I won't. And just in case.. anything changes.. any feelings change, I promise I'd tell you.
EasyWalsh: I'm not afraid of you cheating, that's just the second thing in my thoughts.
CVernon: Then what?
EasyWalsh: Maybe its the last thing you said.
CVernon: What? Changing feelings?
EasyWalsh: Maybe.
CVernon: So let me get this straight, you're afraid of my feelings changing?
EasyWalsh: Somewhat.
CVernon: Or you're just afraid of losing me?
EasyWalsh: Exactly.
CVernon: Look. Don't be. I'm yours... I'm all yours.
EasyWalsh: And what about tomorrow?
CVernon: I'll still be yours. I've made several mistakes in my life, and you may be the one of the biggest of my mistakes.
CVernon: But I don't care. You're just one thing I don't regret. Which makes my life a little more worthwhile.
EasyWalsh: Are you sure?
CVernon: No, but I'm sure about you.
________________________________

A Literally Fresh Start.

2008-12-07T13:33:00.004+08:00

Callie Vernon squinted, searching for Asher in the crowd. 'Sides the humidity she felt rubbing off her skin, the sun wasn't very pleasing either. It's beams seemed to be so bright, it would hurt your own eyesight. Once Callie spotted Asher, she ran towards him and instantly slid in the car. Three days in Florida wasn't really that fun, especially when she had to entertain these people she barely knew who claimed to be related to her grandfather. Now that she's back from Florida, she's going to have to set herself for something really new-- first day of Middle School. Her treacherous elementary days hadn't been all fun, but probably sixth grade could be an exception. Middle School, she's been planning for this. She's been planning to be a whole new different person. A better person, someone who she can be happy with, and who her parents would appreciate. Callie wanted to get her life back on track, but did she really think it was going to be that easy?

"Goodbye, Callie." Mr. Vernon said wistfully with his half smile. He must have been exhausted to have traveled from Florida then straight back to Australia in barely one day. "Bye, dad." Callie waved and smiled back. A tear slid down her fathers cheek and he said, "I'll be back soon.". Was he really that much of a drama king? But despite the situation's cheesiness, Callie, for once felt it to be a little heartbreaking. She never saw her father act that way, probably it was because his dad died and he was leaving again so soon? She watched her dad fade away into the crowd, and as soon she was sure he was in the lobby, she went back to the car.

The moment they had arrived home, Callie went straight to her room. No, not to cry, to fix her things for tomorrow. Callie didn't seem too affected by the loss of her grandfather, and the absence once more of her father. But come to think of it, Callie hated her family seeing she cared. She thought it was a sign of weakness? Whatever. Callie packed her supposed bag, consisting of merely just a pen and a notebook. She straightened out her uniform, took a deep breath an stared at it. Buh- bye Elementary, Hello Middle School. Tomorrow she was going to be a seventh grader, and based on what her 'big sister' Althea Momsen had said, seventh grade had much to offer, and she was psyched for that. It's just sad Althea had moved into one of St. Lucius's competition, Waverly Academy.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"EVERYBODY SIIIIIIIIIIIING, LIKE ITS THE LAST SONG YOU WILL EVER SING. TELL ME, TELL ME, CAN YOU FEEL THE PRESSURE NOW?" went Paramore with 'Born for This'. Without even looking at what time it was, Callie just jumped off the bed and stood up. Callie was always like this during first day of school, but usually it'd fade away when the school years about to end. "What's for breakfa--" Callie stopped speaking when she enetered the kitchen and saw nothing on the breakfast table. "Looks like Dorota has a day off today." Callie said, intentionally getting her voce high. Dorota came out of her room, obviously still sleepy. "Hey, You know what? Don't even bother Dorota, I've got it all covered." Callie said, insisting that she prepare her own breakfast. Dorota, clearly agreed that Callie did so. She went back into her room, shut the door quite loudly and suppose she slept again. Callie grabbed a banana and snagged a protein bar from the refrigerator. She ate up, joining it with a glass of milk.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Ok.. So where am I supposed to go?" Callie asked herself, confused of where her classroom was. the Dumbarton building was a whole new place to Callie. She was familiar with some of the places, but she didn't know most of them. Luckily, Callie had spotted an old classmate of hers, Keisha Roberts. "Keisha! Do you happen to know where our classroom is?" Callie asked. Keisha, is her classmate, again. It's funny that Keisha has been her classmate for three years straight, and yet she hasn't had a really good conversation with her--even if it was about studies. "Second and half a floor, first classroom you come across there is it." Keisha smiled. "Thanks." Callie smiled back and started climbing up the stairs. "Second and half floor... Second and a half floor... Second and half floor!" Callie rejoiced as she saw the second and a half floor. She scoped around, looking for either Kate, Brett, Brandon or Solomon 'cause she knew they were her classmates. Not that she was talking to Brandon again, but 'cause Brandon was one of those smart people. And if it only weren't for Samantha Croug, he should have been part of the Honor Role. Oh well, that's life. Perfect. She spotted Brandon entering the classroom, his still loud and definite voice lingered around the area. Everyone seemed so caught up looking for their old friends that they have literally abandoned their classrooms. The seond and a half floor, still seemed empty. There was clearly no one to talk to so Callie just stood outside I-C and felt the damp wind whisk against her bare cold face.

Callie stayed outside of the classroom, and observed how people just started entering their classrooms and rejoicing about how boring their summers were. She watched Brandon Buchanan talk to Solomon Uley and Julian McCafferty about whatever. To her surprise, she saw Rifat Butoux having a chat with Loraine Peyton and Scarlet Spears. Callie never knew that Rifat, practically the laughing stalk of their batch, had even had the decent moral to get into I-C. She saw Zachary Gates, Cornette Jones, Pete Ores, Ed Thorne, Mionette Reynoldi, and Raven Greene having a bustle at the rear of the classroom. Cassiopoea, Anne and Tinsley were sitting by the bench near the stairs, and right before she could turn to see who else was inside the classroom, Brett came up with her loaded bag. "B!, Callie screamed as see skipped towards Brett. "Callie!", Brett said in response. "Like, Oh my God. 7th grade! Eeeeh!", Callie squealed. She didn't know where this happiness was coming from, to think that a while ago she hadn't spoken to anyone except for Keisha. "I got lost on my way here.", Callie admitted in shame. "Oh. I had this sophomore, Delanie Prescot to get me here. You know her right?" Brett said, smiling. "Oh, yeah. I know her." Callie said as they walked inside the classroom.

"All 7th Grade students, please proceed to the Maxwell Auditorium." a ver disturbinglu loud voice called out from the speakers. Callie dropped her bag in whatever chair next to Brett's. She grabbed a pen and sneaked in some gum as well. They were being called to the Maxwell Auditorium for whatever. The teachers decided they'd give the freshly graduated 7th graders a brief orientation on how things worked in Middle School. But it's not like anyone listened. "Hey, B. What happened to you and Julie?" Callie asked out of boredome. Over the summer, Easy had told Callie about what happened between Julian McCafferty and Brett. It was heartbreakingly tragic. But it was still the least painful way. "Who's Julie?" Brett asked, confused. "Ugh, Julian? Duh." Callie rolled her eyes. "Oh. I... well," Brett trailed off. "Hey, you know what? Screw that, I know what happened." Callie said laughing. "Stern, but was the best decision." she continued. Brett smiled, as if she were in relief. Brett was harsh, and whatever happened was heartbreaking. Easy once told Callie about how Brett just told Julian that she didn't like him anymore and that she didn't want to be seeing him that often. And when Callie asked Easy why Brett had done that, Easy simply stated that Brett just didn't like him. That's it. Telling him was the right decision, even if it hurts for poor Julian, it would hurt twice if Brett pretended that she still liked him, right? So that went on and on during the orientation that spent practically the whole day. During breaks, Callie and Brett met up with Celine, Easy, Heath, Harry and Ryan.

"Well, wasn't today boring?" Callie said as a rhetorical question as they went back to the classroom. The silly orientation was over. Kate Spades was late by what, 4 hours? Harry kept participating in the oritentation, claiming him to running for Valedictorian. Silly Harry. The bell rang, and finally it was time to go home.

Eternal Sleep.

2008-12-06T18:28:00.002+08:00

May those who lay under their graves be blessed and rest in peace. This post is pretty sad, so I'm not sure if I'd do my best at it. So, anyway. Those who die, are actually very very lucky. Because I personally believe that whenever each days passes by, the world just continues to be engulfed by supreme darkness. Ironically, we're blinded by what brilliance our creations are. Though, yes. It's an improvement, knowing that the human race is getting smarter, but as we get smarter, and more innovative, why does it feel like we also get more evil and a little more evil? Oh well, I'm not going to tell a tale of evil now. I'm going to tell a tale of death. A very shocking death, unfortunate timing,

Yesterday, Callie bought the stuff she needed for opening of classes. Another year at St. Lucius, shocking-really. She spent sixth grade, wondering if she'd be staying or not. Callie was so excited about the opening of classes. It would merely be 4 days until she gets to go back to school. 4 days until she sees her friends, 4 days until she finally gets into middle school, 4 days until she gets to meet the teachers [yes, that also includes the terror teachers], 4 days until she gets her allowance again, and 4 days more until she finally finally finally sees Easy again.

________________________________________

CVernon: 4 days left til classes start again!
HarryD: Still in St. Lucius?
CVernon: Hell yeah!
CVernon: See ya, Dillon.
________________________________________

CVernon: Easy!
EasyWalsh: Yeah?
CVernon: 4 days. *big grin smile*
EasyWalsh: What?
EasyWalsh: Ohh. Class Opening.
CVernon: Looks like you don't wanna see me, anymore. *tongue emoticon*
EasyWalsh: No. It's just that, summer was kind of short.
CVernon: What? It felt like forever.
EasyWalsh: Not to me.
CVernon: Lazy bones.
EasyWalsh: *laughing emoticon*
CVernon: Section's are out, Colista says.
EasyWalsh: Yeah, they are.
CVernon: Know yours yet?
EasyWalsh: Well, I'm in I-F.
CVernon: What?! *crying emoticon*
EasyWalsh: Hey, what the hell? It's not that bad. I'd get to be the smart guy again.
CVernon: *straight face emoticon*
EasyWalsh: I'm with Dillon, by the way.
CVernon: Oh.
EasyWalsh: You're in I-C. Not a shock, A+ kids are there.
CVernon: Tss.
CVernon: Can't wait to see you.
EasyWalsh: It's just 4 days.
CVernon: Still.
EasyWalsh: *smiling emoticon*
________________________________________

CelCol: C! OMFFFFFG. Classes in 4 days. I'm hyper.
CVernon: Yeay?
CelCol: You suck. Didn't you miss me?
CVernon: No? *laughing emoticon*
CelCol: I hate you. *laughing emoticon*
CVernon: Yeah you do. Hate you right back, Colista.
CelCol: You are so mean!
CVernon: Just playing with you, Colista.
CelCol: Yeah, I know. I was just playing with you. *laughing emoticon*
CelCol: Sweet revenge.
CVernon: Uhm? Sure. Whatever.
________________________________________

Callie took a pause from her excitement and went away from her laptop for a while to grab an apple. As she went to the kitchen, she saw Aunt Demi, Dorota, and Aunt Rose with her five year old cousin, Taylor. Aunt Rose and Taylor had moved in a week ago, when Callie came back from Spain. They decided to come and live with Callie and Aunt Demi 'cause Uncle Marty was being assigned to Australia with Callie's father. And since Taylor's five, and they're both girls, they'd rather be safe than sorry. "Am I in trouble?" Callie asked as she gradually slowed her walking. "Callie, your mom called." Aunt Demi said while she fiddled with her fingers. "And?" Callie said in return as she munched on the apple she was holding. "Your grandpa in Florida passed away last night." she said in sympathy. Callie couldn't say anything. She stood still, and her mouth opened in reflex to what her aunt had said. "Your dad's gonna be back here tonight." Aunt Demi added. Callie walked out of the kitchen, startled at the shocking news. She knew that she and her dad would have to go all the way to Florida for the funeral. And that wouldn't take a day, 'cause of course there would have to be mourning and everything. She might not be able to attend the first day of class, or maybe even first week of the school year. Callie then suddenly heard a slight knock on her bedroom door, Aunt Rose came in. "Cal.." Aunt Rose was one of Callie's favorite aunts. She used to live with her when they were back in Australia. She came back to New York when she got married to Callie's godfather, Martin "Marty" Fox. "I know you're very very excited about going back to school.. but your dad needs you." Aunt Rose pat Callie on her shoulder and left.

________________________________________

CVernon: Hey, HD.
HarryD: What's up?
CVernon: Might not be present on the first day.
HarryD: What? Why?
CVernon: Granpa died last night.
HarryD: Oh. Mom or Dad?
CVernon: Dad.
HarryD: I'm sorry.
CVernon: Yeah, whatever.
HarryD: I gotta go. I have tennis practice.
CVernon: I hope you literally break a leg.
HarryD: What a bitch. *laughing emoticon*
CVernon: Have it, grab it, live with it. Word. *lauhing emoticon*
HarryD: I'm sorry, again.
CVernon: Leave. Now.
HarryD: Yes Ma'am.
HarryD has signed out.
________________________________________

CVernon: *frown emoticon*
EasyWalsh: Why the long face?
CVernon: Might not be in school on the first day.
EasyWalsh: Why?
CVernon: Granpa died.
EasyWalsh: Oh. Condolence.
CVernon: *frown emoticon*
EasyWalsh: Hey, cheer up.
CVernon: I wanna go to school on first day!
EasyWalsh: It's just going to be a few more days.
CVernon: I can't even any longer than 4 days.
EasyWalsh: It'd be fine.
EasyWalsh: I have to go, Kim wants to used the computer.
CVernon: Ok.
EasyWalsh has signed out.
________________________________________

Auf wiedersen.

2008-12-01T22:58:00.007+08:00

I declare summer is the most boring time of the year. Forgive me for saying that, but it is. It's the most boring, unproductive, and lazy season of all seasons. So what has gone into me today? Well, nothing really. I'm just really sleepy 'cause I hadn't got sufficient sleep 'cause o' last night. Seriously, I take a two day vacation, nice long hours of snoozing. And I come back, and back to normal-- bye bye good hours o' sleep. Oh well, I guess my body'll get used to it, right? Okay, enough about moi, let's get back on track. Last time I typed my fingers away, Callie had just graduated. And an unexpected visit from Rupert Stein slapped her right in the face. Her parents popped the question, and obviously, Callie declined. What's after graduation? Summer. But I will mention that a little later, but to judge by the title, the post isn't all about summer. I bet you're thinking, 'Callie's leaving'. Just keep reading and you be the one to judge if your speculations are correct. ;]

"Callie, pack up. You have a week at Spain waiting for you." Mrs. Vernon rushed through the door and into Callie's room waving the ticket in her hand. "What? I don't know anything about Spain?" Callie stood up from her bed and looked at her mother showing confusion. "I forgot to tell you? Oh well. Your flight's at 7pm." She threw the ticket on Callie's bed and left. "Spain?" Callie asked herself, and shook her head in disagreement. Sure it was sweet that her mom had bought her a ticket to one of the most beautiful places in Europe, but Callie wanted to go back to New York. She wanted to hear the traffic, she wanted to see the traffic. She wanted to feel the heat, the smell of burning dirty hot dogs, be in with the busy people and talk to Easy without having to wake up at midnight.

"Double time, Spain is waiting, and it might leave you." Mrs. Vernon said as she knocked slightly hard on the door. Callie came out, without even being ready. Her hair was still wet, she hadn't fixed her outfit properly and she was feeling really cold. "Paolo." Mrs. Vernon tilted her head towards the door as if she was to say that they should get going. "Bye mom." Callie walked swiftly towards the door, and she heard her mother say, "Bye.". She and Paolo drove towards the airport. She got out of the vehicle and entered. Just as she was about to line to check in her luggage, she said, "Thanks, Pao.". She smiled and hurried along.

The flight didn't take that long, or maybe it just felt like it 'cause Callie was asleep the whole time. They had arrived in Madrid, Spain, and Callie giggled to the way the kid sitting next to her reacted when the flight stewardess woke her up. As soon as Callie got off the plane, she turned on her phone. Around a minute passed and her phone rang. "Callie? Where're you?" Catherine sounded like she was screaming. "Airport. Madrird. Why?", Callie got a little distracted by all the gorgeous women. They all looked so hot. "Yea, I know. Meet me in five?", Catherine said. Just before Catherine hung up, Callie followed up, "What? Where are you? I thought you were in Manhattan photo shooting for Hollister?". "That was yesterday. I'm in Madrid now, and I can see you.", Catherine put down the phone and waved. As soon as Callie saw Catherine, she waved back. The really cute helper assisted Callie with her luggage, and they approached Catherine. "Hola!" Catherine smiled. "Welcome to Madrid!", she said as she did this salsa gesture with her hands. "Uhm, ole?" Callie said, weirded out at how freaky Catherine was acting. "Isn't that mexican?" Catherine said almost laughing. Catherine and Callie looked at the helper, and the helper just smiled a bit and shrugged. "Who cares? Missed you like super, C." Catherine hugged Callie. Callie was supposed to hug back, if only it weren't for the Gucci tote she had in her hand. "Allow me to take you to your suite senorita?" Catherine offered, as she bowed down like a hand maiden. "Cath, quit it." Callie said, with disgust in her face. "Fine." Catherine said smiling, "Got a ride?" Callie asked. "Vespa." Catherine said seemingly proud. "How in the world will my luggage fit there?" Callie said as she pointed at the dark green Vespa. "That's why we have Paolo here with his van", Paolo's here? But wasn't Paolo at France? Callie asked herself. "Paolo?" Callie asked Catherine, obviously confused. "Paolo from Spain, He's Paolo of France's cousin." Catherine smiled. "My father is named Paolo too, it runs in the family.", a seemingly middle aged man appeared from behind a looking old van. "The van's Paolo's, we're taking the Vespa." Catherine said, as she pointed Paolo to where Callie's luggage was. "Why are we taking that--"Callie pointed at the Vespa again, "--when we can take the van with Paolo?" Callie asked. "Because you'd never really enjoy Spain if you don't take the Vespa." Catherine dragged Callie over to the shining, obviously new Vespa. "How long have you been here exactly?" Callie asked, wondering how in the world did Catherine know if she was at Manhattan yesterday. "Around four hours at the Plaza, so boring." Catherine laughed. Catherine was being hyper, it was weird. Callie looked at Catherine, smiling but still lost in confusion. "You drive?" Callie asked. Catherine got on the Vespa and played with the keys in her fingers. "Tell me, I won't die." Callie said, nervously. She never knew Catherine could drive. "I'm not promising anything." Catherine started the Vespa, and Callie got on. They drove off to the hotel with Paolo and his van behind them.

_______________________________________

Buzz!
EasyWalsh: Hey, long time no talk.
CVernon: Uhm. Yeah. Lot of changes, including your ID.
EasyWalsh: I didn't want you to remember me as Computer Guy. *smiling emoticon*
CVernon: *laughing emoticon*
EasyWalsh: So, why have you not been speaking to me? What's keeping you busy?
EasyWalsh: Who's the french man?
CVernon: There is no french man, silly.
EasyWalsh: Then what? You can't be not speaking to me without a reason.
CVernon: I was busy.
EasyWalsh: It's summer, you can't be busy.
EasyWalsh: Busy shopping, maybe?
CVernon: Half true.
EasyWalsh: So... What's up?
CVernon: Madrid, Spain.
EasyWalsh: What about it?
Cvernon: It's where I'm at. *big grin emoticon*
EasyWalsh: Weren't you at France with your mom?
CVernon: Not anymore.
EasyWalsh: Damn.
CVernon: Hey, I gotta go. Catherine wants to pig out.
EasyWalsh: Yeah, sure.
CVernon: Missed you.
EasyWalsh: Yeah, me too.
CVernon: See ya.
CVernon has signed out.
_______________________________________

Callie spent one week in Madrid, eating exotic spanish food. 'Sides that, nothing else. she just slept, ate, watched television and used her laptop. Spain wasn't really all that exciting, it was just fine. The pretty and hot people just made Callie jealous.

The last hours of a sixth grader.

2008-11-27T07:54:00.004+08:00

So I guess this is it, my dear reader/s. This is probably the end of little Callie's tale. But who knows? Maybe there IS something more interesting than all that I've told you; if so, yeahy you, I'd have more to twaddle tell. So last time I've told you anything, about anything at all, I just revealed how much of a despicable daughter Callie was. Did I surprise you? Cause I, personally, wasn't. All throughout this damsel's tale, I think I've pointed out that she had this side of rebellion; so if you're surprised, it just proves you didn't really pay attention. (Or if you're kind of back a bit and haven't really read my earlier posts, just shows you're too lazy to read it. haha. Peace! x] XP)

It's barely 8:45 pm, unbelievably, winter has faded and the wondrous scent of spring has just begun to arise. For the past hour, Callie has been relaxing on her bed, reading a book by Mitch Albom. "Signorina, dinner is served." Not one little knock on the door, Dorota just came flyin in, with her low pitched high volume voice, Callie's ambiance of relaxation was ruined. "A little thrust of force causes your hand to do this, causing you to make a knock. Learn how to knock, Dorota. My calmness is gone 'cause o' you." Callie said as she demonstrated how to knock on her book. "Pardon me. Your parents want you eat with them.". "I'll be out in five."Callie shut her book closed, and unplugged her iPod from the dock. Callie let out an oblique sigh, to ther thought of another night having dinner with her parents, surrounded by deafening secluded silence. Really, having her parents home did not feel one tiny bit right.

"How nice of you to join us for dinner, Callie."

"It's not like I have a choice." Callie murmured.

"What?" Mrs. Vernon picked on the mushroom on the side of her plate.

"Yeah, my pleasure." Callie showcased a faint smile as she pulled out her seat and sat down.

"Well. Tomorrow you wouldn't be a sixth grader anymore." Mr. Vernon commented.

"Neither would I be a 7th grader. I'd still be stuck in between, no big deal." That wasn't supposed to be funny. Because it really wasn't funny. Funny thing that her parent's found that funny. And that's not funny.

Dinner with her parents felt like hell. It felt like she had to act like someone she really wasn't for the sake of their approval of what she's done with her life. Seriously, she shouldn't be living the life they've wanted to live.

"Excuse me. I'm sorry to say I'm bloated now." Callie stood up and excused herself from the table. Her untouched food sat on the table. She took a glance at the food, hesitantly wanting to come back for it. But she couldn't, she didn't want to.

- - - - - - - -

5:43 am, Callie had awaken to Dorota shaking her. "What the hell Dorota, Go to bed." Callie thought that the sun hadn't come out yet and it was around 3; but it wasn't. It really was 5:43, and in a few more seconds, 5:44. "Madame Callie!" Callie gained her strength in shock. Did just Dorota just pull her out of her nice sleep? And yes, literally, pull. "Breakfast outside? Or do I have to bring it to bed?" Dorota asked. "Breakfast in bed, por favor." Callie sat up on her bed and rubbed her eyes. Everything was still blurry and dark, so Callie switched the lights on. After her eyes got used to the sudden brightness the fluorescent light gave off, Dorota came coming in. "Your mom would like you to have a good breakfast, Madame Callie." Callie stared at Dorota for about three seconds. She looked at the food. Dorota had prepared several strips of bacon, some waffles and strawberries with whipped cream. Mmmm. Strawberries with whipped cream. Callie took a strawberry and munched on it. After that, she gave Dorota a flimsy grin and left the food on the bed.

Callie got ready, and she felt like she was running late. Her mother was being OC again, trying to make Callie look better by experimenting with hairstyles; which didn't make sense 'cause Callie still looked the same. When they were ready, they drove off to St. Lucius. They arrived at the campus. And as instructed, Callie ran away from her parents and headed to the classroom to meet up with her classmates. Callie entered the room, in huge suspicion. It was five minutes before the programme should have started, and still very few people were present. "Callie!" Trixie, Benny, Brett, Anne, Harry, and Jonas were seated in a bunch of chairs formed into a circular-like figure. "Hey." Callie sighed. She was supposed to be happy. Goodbye elementary. Goodbye child-like activities. Goodbye... everything.

A few more minutes passed, and finally, the commencement pushed through. They all lined up, and headed towards the Gymnasium. Before the music started, Callie started to become nervous. "What if I trip?", "What if I fall off the stage?", "What if my skirt falls down?", "What if I forget my name?"--Callie would constantly ask Lily and Cindy. Yes, these may seem like silly what-ifs, but who knows. They might just happen. I, honestly, do not want to put everything in detail. Especially this boring Rites part. So allow me to fast forward. Yeah, the whole deal went on and on, surprisingly better than that of what was practiced. Callie teared up and cried in some parts, but in the rest, she felt sleepy. Around two tiresome hours passed, and thank God, it was over. And when you think of it, everything was over.

"Callie!" Her mother gave her a quick hug as soon as Callie had found them. "Very well done." Mr. Vernon commented. Callie smiled faintly. She was nervous about what her parents were about to say next; like: 'Okay, pack your bags, you're leaving.' or something like that. As they were driving home, a seemingly brand new 2008 Altis overtook and stopped in front of the house. "Damn driver." Mrs. Vernon cursed. As they got off, and right about time before Callie's mom would have fought off the crud off the Altis Driver, a familiar face seemed to have been flashing through Callie's memory. "Oh My God." Callie murmured, and in a split second, she screamed. "Uncle Roo!". Uncle Roo aka. Rupert Stein, is a good friend of Callie's parents, who happens to be one of Callie's favorite uncles, even if he is unbiological. "Callie. Ready for Middle School?" He smiled as he gave her a quick hug. "No. But I will be." Callie smiled. "Why in the world didn't you call, Roo?" Mrs. Vernon stepped out of the car and fixed her blouse. "So you wouldn't know I was coming." They all laughed, 'cept for Callie, of course. "New car?" Callie asked as she intentionally and playfully stole the keys from him and opened the door. Uncle Roo pulled her out, got in and started the car. He put down the windows and said, "Lunch at Ritoli's?". "I'm in!" Callie slid in the backseat and bounced like a child. Her parents followed, her dad in the front seat, and her mom next to her.

On their way to Ritoli's, Callie's parents finally popped the question. "So.. Callie. Ready for France?" Mrs. Vernon asked. "Désolé, no." Callie trailed off. "And that answer answers any question that has to do with Italy, California, Boston or somewhere else but New York, New York." Callie continued. An ounce of silence fell upon them, it was getting quite uncomfortable. They arrived at Ritoli's and ate. And for the rest of the day, they did nothing but eat. Callie was starting to feel awkward. But she couldn't not eat, or else her parents would suspect. So Callie's graduation hasn't been as exciting as she thought it would be. Probably once she LEAVES, things would get all sparkly. But I just have this feeling that the ending and leaving, isn't going to happen just yet. ;]

Home Bitter Home.

2008-11-26T23:07:00.001+08:00

"Callie, Sweetie!" A kiss and a hug wasn't what Callie was expecting upon the arrival of her mother, "Callie." her father coming out from behind her mother. It seemed like forever since her family had been complete, of course she should be happy, and she is. But there's just something that didn't feel right, something felt so wrong. "I'm so proud of you." Mrs. Vernon whispered. Callie, now startled, felt like somehow she liked it better when her parents weren't around-- or maybe she's just not used to it anymore? Call it weird, but Callie didn't want to approach her parents. Suppose Callie's feeling a little bashful, or is this some way of rebellion. Either way, it made talking to her parents a little more difficult than she had suspect it to be. Talking to them on the phone was fine, but now that they're here, it wasn't all that easy. It's like Callie did not want to talk them. Call Callie a bad daughter, but that's the truth. Something did not feel right, but Callie didn't know what that was exactly.

What does Callie hate about her parents? Let's enumerate:

1. They do nothing but sermon her about the same things over and over again.
2. They expect so much of Callie to be their "perfect girl".
3. They can't accept the fact that Callie's more on the artistic side, than on the brainy side.
4. They look for every single spec of dirt on Callie's actions, and nag til it gets irritating.
5. Since Callie is the only child, she's forced to commit minimal mistakes in life. If she screwed her life up, hell no would there be anyone to turn to.
6. They'd always compare her to Catherine and Georgina, her absolutely perfect cousins, and it's kind of hard to compete with that.
7. They just never listen. No matter how much Callie explained, and no matter what point Callie had, they're the rules. No consideration, no listening.
8. Everything she had done was never good enough. Period. No need to explain that.

I bet you're thinking that Callie is the worst daughter ever. No doubt, it's always been that way, anyway. Callie's always wrong, it's always her fault. She's the one to blame, and she never has a point. It's always like that, and it always will be. Callie once tried to compromise with that of what her parents want her to be, but as she grew up without them, she's come to think that this is her life she's living. It's her life, not theirs. She's sorry she wants to live her life the way she wants to, and not the life they wanted for themselves, and because they never got it, they're forcing her to achieve it. Callie isn't stupid to not know how to screw her life up. Of course, Callie is aware of everything that's happening. Callie just wishes her parents wouldn't treat her like their kid robot, because she's not. She's not the little girl she used to be, she's human, and she's way different from them. This isn't rebellion, it's defense.

But i thought this was over?

2008-11-24T18:21:00.009+08:00

Graduation, according to the Merriam-Webster's 11th Collegiate Dictionary, means the award or acceptance if an academic degree or quantity; commencement. Graduation, to me, means the accomplishment of finishing or completing a series of trials, challenges and problems. Usually, when we say 'graduation', the first thing that enters our minds is education; but sometimes we can graduate from things in life, like bad habits, bad attitudes and alike. Probably you're thinking that this post would be straight to the commencement rights already, well if you are, you're wrong.

"Cal, any last words?"
"What the crud Trix, Who in the world died?"
"Some random person? But seriously, anything you wanna say?" Trixie looked at Callie, this time, she looked serious.
"Wha-What the hell?" Callie took a second to think. She couldn't recall anything, besides the fact there was a possibility she was going to leave after sixth grade... speaking of leaving...
"Whoahyeah! You're leaving." Callie sighed. Well at least she wouldn't be leaving Trixie, they'd be leaving each other-- which is fair enough.
"And you're happy about it?" Trixie looked disappointed. Callie didn't want Trixie to leave, neither did she want her herself to leave, but she didn't want Trixie to look at things negatively. And as you may have guessed, Callie doesn't take her own advice, that's why she gives it away.
"No way, T. I'm kind of sad, but you leaving is yet to come. Come on, you're running for the Honor Role. Smile." Callie pat Trixie on her shoulders, trying to cheer her up.
"You're right. Thanks, Cal." They both smiled, but then Trixie started crying.
"Dude. Stop the drama. We still have a fortnight, lets make the most of it." Callie, said in shock to herself. Was this really her being optimistic and full of hope?

- - - - - - - -

"Graduation Practices and Baccalaureate Practices will officially be started tomorrow. Please come on time, don't be late and be on your best behavior. Suffice your last days and hours of being in grade school." Mrs. Montez announced. Though Mrs. Montez hadn't been the greatest teacher anyone could ever meet, she was good enough. She did her job, she guided, she befriended; and now that the school year is about to end, Callie felt a little sullen. For the record, sixth grade may not be the best, but it's the most memorable school year Callie had ever had, the whole time she went to school. Sixth grade made her learn and realize a whole lot of things. Callie realized that Kate Spades, their class valedictorian, was kind of fun and nice, despite her brainy-ness. She found out that most guy teachers of St. Lucius's grade school department had frail traits of queerness. She learned how much drama her classmates, including her, had. She realized that moving on isn't exactly letting go; it's holding on to what's left behind, and living life with that. So moving on, Callie was a little saddened by the fact that by next year, everything would change. In summer, everything changes. And as most adults say, high school will ruin your life, make your life memorable, and it would challenge your true self.

For the rest of the week, they practiced for their baccalaureate mass and their commencement rights. While Heather Farkas, the responsorial psalm lead was singing, Callie noticed the reaction of Mrs. Williams face. "Whoa. What's up with Mrs. Williams?" Callie asked Lily Osment, the girl on her left. "Looks annoyed." Lily answered. Lily was never really the talkative type, I guess Callie just talks her into talking to her. Mrs. Williams suddent started playing the organ, and asked Heather to come to her and talk. As her batch mates busied theirselves talking and gossiping with each other, Callie noticed how Heather started crying. After a moment, Mrs. Williams started approaching students -- and Callie was one of them. "Vernon. Come with me." Callie hated it when teachers called her by her last name, it always sent her chills. Callie stood up, quizically and circumspectedly, following Mrs. Williams. "You know the song, sing a few notes." Mrs. William started playing the organ again, but this time on minimum volume. "Uhm, Mrs... Williams? I'm afraid I'm not all that familiar with the piece." Callie knew the song, she was seated in the front row, so she's forced to pay attention to whatever that was happening in the practices. Callie, honestly, just tried to escape. She didn't want to sing because she had a flu, and she honestly just didn't want to. Mrs. Williams then started singing, demonstrating how Callie was supposed to sing it; and Callie did so. After Callie sang a part of the piece, Mrs. Williams let her go join her batchmates in their break. "I think I heard an angel." Trixie kind of mocked. "Oh really, I think I heard MyYaya Carry" Jonas added. "You two flatter me, really." Callie said sarcastically. "No, but really. You rock, kind of." Jonas said laughing. "Don't mock me, Jo." Callie demanded in a friendly way. "I love you, don't listen to Pardee." Trixie said, pulling Callie towards the empty worn out bench. The three of them laughed all throughout the break, but then Heather approached Callie. "Hey." Heather said, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Whoa. H, you okay?" Callie asked concerned. She wasn't concerned because Heather was her friend, she was concerned cause Heather's eyes were wet and red. "Yeah, yeah. I'm good, C. Congratualtions, btw." Heather smiled. "What? Why?" Callie asked, puzzled. "You're the new R.P. Lead, dont you know?" Callie was shocked. No way was she going to sing infront of the whole batch and try to sound like an angel. "Wh-What the hell?!" Callie exclaimed. "You can do it, I wish I could too." Heather ran off with Natasha and her 'girl gang'. "R.P. Lead? Go MyYaya!" Jonas joked. Callie glared at him. "Sorry." Jonas said immediately.

Callie sung all through out the remaining practices. Despite her embarrasing case of the flu, she still sang. She joined the extra practices Bridget Knowles had with Mrs. Tufles. She missed breaks, ran back and fourth, and almost lost her voice. Callie sung in their baccalaureate mass. She was shivering, shaking and obviously nervous of what the school directress, Doctor Caroline Brown would think of her and her voice. She couldn't help but get insecure everytime she'd catch some of her batchmates laughing at her, but that's life, and you got to get through all that. Callie needed to strengthen her gut, she did so. Callie knew her parent's were coming back to attend to her graduation, but she wasn't so sure if that would feel right.

Desperately Seeking Vanity.

2008-11-22T14:27:00.006+08:00

"Callie. Sit down." Aunt Demi ordered. Callie took off her earphones and looked at her as if she was trying to say 'What did you say?'. "I said sit down.", well that was relief. It looks like she did get it. "What did i do this time?" Callie asked, looking a little cussed out. Her parents, her aunt, and sometimes even Dorota, not to mention her only-one-facial-expressioned grand uncle never really did do anything else but to fill Callie up with resentment. "What's happening to you?" Aunt Demi spoke with dominant authority. Callie's aunt was never really this intimidating, that's why Callie started to wonder what was going on with her. "What do you mean?" Callie was clueless. She had not one single idea of what in the world was her aunt talking about. Maybe it's one of those days where Aunt Demi was going loco again. "You haven't been eating anything since last last night, Dorota catches you puke every other meal, and from since last months check up, you lost 32 pounds.". "So?", Callie didn't know what was the big deal. Her stomach hasn't ached --that much--, she's still acting normal and hell no is it affecting her grades. What's the big deal? "That's not normal." Aunt Demi stood up with her hands in fists. "You're seeing a doctor." She continued. "Wh-What?!" Callie objected. She wasn't ill. There's nothing wrong with her. "She'll be coming over in an hour. Get ready." Aunt Demi looked at Dorota, "Dorota, help her get ready.". "But I'm not ill! I'm perfectly fine!" Callie tried to defend herself, but Dorota pulled her all the way to get ready. "Madame Callie get ready. Doctor here soon." Dorota pulled Callie's robe and towel, she opened the bathroom door and turned the water on. "Will wait outside." Dorota got out and pushed Callie in. Dorota locked the door and waited outside as she said so. "I'm not ill." Callie looked in the mirror. "Who says I'm ill? I'm perfectly fine." Callie was going insane. She talked to herself in the mirror, convincing herself she wasn't sick. "Everything's going to be fine." She talked herself into believing that she was okay, that she wasn't crazy and that she wasn't suffering whatever disease.

After Callie got dressed, she called out, "Dorota?". "Madame Callie, come. Let me help you dry your hair.". Dorota grabbed Callie's brush and unwrapped Callie's hair. Dorota started brushing and drying, while Callie stared at herself being pampered. She didn't at all like the fact that Dorota was pampering her, but she kinda liked the part where she was being pampered like a princess. A little too much of a spoiled brat you think, who cares? You only have once in a life time to be treated like a princess anyway, why throw that chance away? "Callie, the doctor's here to see you.", Aunt Demi entered the room with the doctor tailing behind her. "Dorota." Aunt Demi looked at Dorota, signaling that she could get out. Dorota did so, and all that was left was Callie and her doctor.

So I suppose around an hour and thirty passed and the doctor left. "What'd it say? I told you I was perfectly--" Callie took the report from her aunt, "--Oh My God." Callie fell to the seat next to her and stared at the paper. "This is silly. This isn't true. I'm not sick. No, I'm not sick." Callie started cuddling her knees and moved back and forth. "Callie, listen, you can get out of this. Just eat." Aunt Demi tried to calm Callie down, but it just made her act more erratic. "But.. I can't." Callie stared into blank space. Dorota got her a glass of water and put it in front of her, but Callie didn't dare notice it. "Why not? Aren't you hungry?" Aunt Demi asked as she offered Callie some almonds. "No. I'm hungry." Callie paused for a second and laughed, "I'm starving.". "No doubt. Signorina not eat in two days." Dorota looked at Aunt Demi, Aunt Demi looked at Callie, and Callie played with the almonds between her fingers. "Then why don't you eat, Callie?" Callie looked at Aunt Demi with tears in her eyes. "I just can't. You'd see I'm out of control. You'd see the bad part of me. It's just self abuse." Callie then shifted her view to Dorota, then back to Aunt Demi. "There's nothing bad about eating Callie." Aunt Demi tried to calm down the crying Callie. "But all of them hate me. All of you hate me. Why? Because I'm fat." Callie and Catherine had always been close. But ever since Catherine had joined the modeling industry, Callie started feeling inferior of her. Not only Catherine, even Georgina, her beautiful, smart and gorgeous cousin. And at times, her aunts and uncles, and even childhood friends would always compare her to them, and sometimes it just doens't feel right when all they see in them is pure perfection and all they see in you is unmitigated failure. 'Why can't you be as smart as them?', 'You two look wonderful today Cath and Georgie, oh Callie! I'm sorry I didn't notice you were there.', 'We're all very proud of you Cath, G. How about you Cal? Any achievements lately?'. That was all Callie heard from her relatives. Cath and Georgie were just so perfect, that Callie looked like crud. And it's kinda hard to compete with that, 'specially when you're with them by blood for life.

Callie refused to answer. She ran to her room and just cried. What would she tell them now if they asked if she had any new achievements. 'Oh I don't know, I'm an anorexic bulimic' didn't really quite fit the term 'achievement' there. "I can never be perfect cause I don't try hard enough", Callie said as she stared at the mirror. Callie always knew E.O.'s were kinda weird and just whacked out. But if she couldn't compare herself to them through brains, then maybe she could do it through the physical features? And then maybe, just maybe, she might be worth a little more that crap when she gets compared to her gorgeous cousins.

Bloody Hell.

2008-11-22T13:23:00.002+08:00

The night is young, and it's really cold. Probably it's because it's winter. Callie's alone in her room. The iPod's plugged in, the lights are off, and the only thing that supplied Callie with light was her nightlight. Feeling depressed, Callie hugged her pillow and shoved her face in it. Silly Callie, maybe she forgot she couldn't breathe if she did that. Coming up for air, Callie fixed her messed up hair and just lied down. She stared at the bare ceiling, listening to herself breathe, and feeling the beat of her heart. Tears started falling as she recalled what her mother had said last night. A while ago at school, she just shared what happened to Mr. Frou, Celine, Harry, Easy, Heath and Ryan. Everything was messed up. Callie felt like everything was starting to crash and burn.

She sat up, and looked around the dimly lit room. She got off her bed and peeped through the door. The lights are off and everyone else is asleep. She went out of her room and tiptoed all the way to the kitchen. "Aaaah!" Callie screamed in shock. "Dorota! Don't do that!" Callie said, relieved to see that is was just Dorota. "I'm getting water." Dorota explained. "God. You scared the hell out of me." Callie opened the refrigerator, pretending to look for something to eat. "Good night to you Madame Callie." Dorota went back to her room with her glass of water. And when Callie was sure that Dorota had fallen asleep, Callie meddled with the utensils. "Too small. Too big. Too long. Too heavy. Too... perfect." she commented. Callie held the sides of the utensil, looking at it as it satisfied her need. She went back to the room, holding the utensil carefully. Little did she know, Dorota was watching her all along.

Callie entered her room and sat on the floor. "I'm sorry." She looked at the stolen picture she got of Easy. She knew that whatever she was going to do, Easy wouldn't approve of it. But for once, she didn't care. She didn't want to care. This was her life, he may be a huge part of it, but it's still hers. Callie closed her eyes and took a couple of deep breaths, she stared at the mirror and commented, "Fat Cow.". Callie knew why her mother wanted her to move. She thought that Callie's grades weren't doing well, even she doesn't even know how her grades sufficed compared to her other batchmates. Callie was never good enough for her parents, was she? Memories flashed through her head, making her a little hesitant of pushing through with her plan. But there's no going back. Wherever she was going to be after this upcoming action, she'd take the consequences, the pain... the blood. "Gaaaaaaaaaaah." Callie screamed as she slashed the knife on her wrist. She lied on the floor because of the pain. She squeezed her wrist, trying to make the pain a little less painful. As she watched the blood just flow, she started feeling dizzy. And after a moment of silence.. her view darkened. She was unconcsious. And what happened after that was all a blur.

A tiny spectacle of light, was all Callie had in her memory. She didn't know what happened after she attempted to kill herself. She slowly opened her eyes, and the first face she recognized was Dorota's. "Signorina Callie is awake!" Dorota cried out. It was weird to see Dorota happy, she never smiled often. "Where am I?" Callie asked. She noticed how broken her voice was. Callie felt exhausted, and really really thirsty. She could feel how chapped her lips were, and she also felt how cold her skin was. "In the hospital Madame Callie." Dorota answered. The nurses came in, doing their silly tests. Aunt Demi came in, looking happy. And again, looks are deceiving. "What the hell is wrong with you Callie?!" Aunt Demi scolded. "You're crazy!". Callie looked at Dorota and closed her eyes. She was not in the mood to talk with her aunt. As Callie's eyes were closed, she heard Dorota say, "Must not talk to Signorina like that. Might do it again.". And after that, Callie heard nothing. She probably fell asleep.

CVernon has signed in.
BrettMesserschmidt: Hey Callie. *smiling emoticon*
CVernon: Brett. *waving emoticon*
BrettMesserschmidt: Whats up?
CVernon: Confined.
BrettMesserschmidt: Woah. Why?
CVernon: I tried to kill myself, B.
BrettMesserschmidt: Why? Your mom again?
CVernon: Kind of.
BrettMesserschmidt: Cal. You shouldn't have done that. You could've died.
CVernon: That was the plan. But Dorota was watching.. I think.
BrettMesserschmidt: *sigh emoticon*
CVernon: Seen Easy?
BrettMesserschmidt: Sorry, no.
CVernon: Oh. Okay.
CVernon: Hey, I gotta go rest.
BrettMesserschmidt: Yeah. You better.
Callie Vernon has signed out.

Editorial.

2008-11-21T23:33:00.003+08:00

"Hey mom." Callie answered the phone, wondering why her mother had called. It's just a Thursday night, and her mother doesn't usually call on weekdays. "Callie. What do you think of coming here to France, with me?". "Oh cool. I'd get to see Keith and Keira again. Awesome twins. But mom, summer isn't till--" Mrs. Vernon cut Callie's excitement. "Well, I was thinking of you moving here for Middle School perhaps?". Callie felt her heart drop, she wanted to faint. There was no way her mother was moving her again. She moved from New Zealand to Canada when she was three. She moved from Canada to Italy when she was four, she moved from Italy to Australia when she was five, and then she moved from Australia all the way to New York when she was eight. And now that she's used to the busy and noisy streets of the big apple, there was no way she was going to let her mother move her, again. "Mom. I don't want to move." Callie said firmly. She didn't want to go against her mother anymore, but she couldn't help it when she was used to it and when her mother was totally crossing the line. "But Cal, the education's great here." Mrs. Vernon tried to persuade her, but Callie's mind was focused. She was not leaving. Period. "Mom. I'm not leaving." Callie almost screamed. Her hands were shaking, her eyes were tearing up, and her heart beat was getting faster and faster. "Callie. Calm down.". "You're telling me to calm down mom? I'm tired of moving mom. I never get to keep my friends. I always have to start over. I'm tired of that. What is wrong with you?!" Callie slipped. She knew she shouldn't have said that, but she couldn't control herself anymore. "Callie. This will be good for you.". "You don't know what's good for me mom. You don't even know what's good for yourself. Mom, we own five different houses, and neither of us live in them." Callie tried to make a point, but Mrs. Vernon just changed the topic too quickly. "Callie. Enough. We'll talk when I come home for your graduation." Callie tried to keep calm, but she really just couldnt. "Goodbye Callie." Her mother bid goodbye, "I'm not leaving mom.". Callie, without saying goodbye, hung up the phone. "What happened?" Aunt Demi asked concerned. "Ask your beloved sister." Callie rolled her eyes and entered her room. She couldn't help the tears from falling, they just fell, one after another. Everything else was a blur after that, all she knew was she fell asleep crying.

The next morning, Callie suppose she had just seen the blinding light the sun always had for her to wake her up. "Stupid light." Callie quickly shut the curtains closed. Callie didn't know if she was off the wrong side of bed today because of last night's conversation with her mother, or because of the stupid all so happy light the sun had to offer every single day of her life. "Double time. You're running late." Aunt Demi entered the room. She possible knew that Callie was awake because the weird yet somehow pleasing sound of the AC was gone. "I know." She lied, she didn't know. She didn't even know what time it was. So she checked her bed clock, and to her surprise, it was forty seven after six. Bummer. 'Tis sad to say, Callie will be sort of late, because she's the slowest person to get ready on the planet. Callie walked to the kitchen, still feeling unconscious. Her eyes just kept closing, but she knew she had to wake up, now. She was supposed to grab an apple, but instead she ended up grabbing crackers. So she munched up them really thin crackers up, and got a glass of juice. She ran off to the bathroom and took a bath. "Callie. 10 til the assembly. Faster." Aunt Demi chided as she pounded on the bathroom door. Callie got in her robe, and got out of the bathroom. She got dressed, barely fixing her hair [or even drying it], she left home and went to school.

"Woah. You look screwed up. Anything I should know?" Trixie knew there was something wrong. By the look on Callies face, with how puffy Callie's eye were, and how her eyes would just fall, Trixie kind of knew Callie by heart. "Later, Samuels." Callie didn't feel like talking. She just wanted to shut up and get the day over with. "Ohh. Okay. Just tell me when you're ready." Trixie smiled at Callie. Callie didn't want to be mean, but there was no trace of happiness in her spirit.

"Okay, so please write an editorial of Social relationships, Popularity and how these affect your friendships with others. Please include as many people as you can." Mr. Froue, the school paper chief for the grade school department, commanded. And at only this time, when classes are about to be dismissed, was the only time Callie felt like she had really woke up. So Callie started writing down whatever just flew through her mind. After a few moments of continouos scribbling of some nonsense she didn't know where she got them from, she noticed how teardrop marks started appearing on her paper. "Not now. Holy shit." Callie murmured to herself. She wiped her tears but Celine approached and caught her crying. "C, you okay?" Celine asked. "No." Callie answered definetly. "What happened?" Harry asked as he took the paper from Callie and started reading. "Signorina Vernon, are you doing okay?" Mr Froue approached, noticing how Celine, Harry, Jonas and Kevin were crowding around her. Callie tried to control the tears, but everytime they looked at her, they just fell more. Mr Froue took Callie's editorial from Harry, reading it. Once he had finished, he looked at Callie looking in pity for her. "I never knew well made editorials were composed of such deep emotions. You're leaving Signorina?" Mr Froue uttered. Callie nodded, she wiped her tears and closed her eyes and tried to breathe. Callie started explaining to them, and as soon as she explained everything, Mr. Froue dismissed them an hour early.

Callie walked to the front of the St. Lucius chapel, and sat by the pole she always hung out by. Celine and Harry were with her, trying to comfort her. She bowed her head down for a moment, and when she rose, she saw Ryan, Heath and Easy looking down at her. "What happened?" Heath asked. Callie took a deep breath, "I might be moving.. all the way to France. My retarded mother thinks that it may be better for me.". Callie rolled her eyes and then focused her eyes on Easy. Easy didn't say anything, he just stared at her. Ryan, Heath, Easy, Harry and Celine tried to comfort her. Sure, they might have made her laugh a little with their silly plans, but that didn't make the situation any better. Callie checked her watch, and gratefully it was three. Thank God. All she wanted to do was go home.

So maybe you're thinking, why wouldn't she just leave? She's done it many times before, isn't she used to it? Well, maybe that's the whole point. She's done it many times before, and she's tired of it. Callie didn't want to leave because she had friends here already. She had friends that she didn't want to lose. Even if you say there's Y!M, or AIM, 'tis not the same. And if Callie would leave, nothing will ever be the same.

Forgive but never Forget.

2008-11-21T21:50:00.004+08:00

Forgive and forget as they say, sorry to oppose, but I still will. If we forgive, we forgive for what they have done wrong to you. In line with this, if we forget about what they did, then we forget about what we forgave them for. Does it make sense? Cause to me, it does.

Last time I've spilled, Easy, Brett, Benny, Heath, Julian, Solomon and Brandon were being suspended because a little miss somebody ratted them out to the teachers. Callie hated her for a while, she really did. Her excuses made no sense, or maybe that was just her? Okay, so I apologize for the profanity and all that, I just needed to express Callie's emotions back then. Nothing personal, it's all over now. Speaking of it all being over, let me tell you how that happened:

Samantha Croug has been awfully quiet for a while. It's been a week, Callie knew they were wrong, Samantha was right actually, but to the point that she'd make them lose all they were holding on, was just cruel. "Callie..." a friendly, seemingly melancholic voice approached her, and as Callie turned to see who was the face behind the distraught voice, to her surprise, it was Samantha Croug. Callie didn't respond, she just stared at Samantha. With Callie's straight face, you would know that she didn't want to talk to her, at all. "Are you... mad? Do you.. hate me?" She asked, looking sincerely regretful of what she had done. "No... well, not anymore. I'm just... annoyed." Callie admitted. She didn't want to lie, because it was so obvious that she was annoyed at Samantha. But despite her annoyance, she still had the heart to just get over it and just let it go. "Well.. I'm sorry. I really am." Samantha apologized. As much as Callie hated it, she just couldn't resist saying-- "Well. No, it's okay. You were right, really, I just hated the fact that you would let it go this far and get them suspended. I suppose you knew that they would get suspended if you had told." Callie explained. Callie noticed Heath looking at her from afar, and she knew Heath wouldn't like her talking to Samantha. But, Callie shouldn't be caught up between Heath and Samantha, right? Callie got mad at Samantha for her own reasons, it may be similar to Heath's, but it still isn't the same. "I tried apologizing to Heath.. and Brett.. and the rest of them.. but they were just telling me to go away." Samantha said, her voice breaking. At that point, Callie knew Samantha wanted to be at peace. Of course Samantha could never regain Brett's trust ever again, but probably she figured that all she needed was for them to put this all behind them. With the look of Samantha's face, Callie knew Samantha did not any longer care about them talking to her, or them being at good terms with her. It seemed like Samantha didn't care if they ignored her. Maybe all she wanted was for them to stop threatening her, insulting her, trash mouthing her and torturing her. Maybe all she needed was silence, from everyone concerned, even the teachers. She said she was sorry, and with her trembing voice, it sounded like she meant it. We can't blame her for not thinking about what could happen next when all that was infront of her was what she knew was right, can we? "Hey. Look, I know you're having a hard time handling them and all... but, I'm being negative to put you down, I'm being negative to get you ready, so.. listen. In what you have done, yes, I'd have to say they were wrong, but you should have warned them or something. You had them lose something very important to all of them." Callie said, finally losing the irritation. "I.. didn't mean it to be... this stern." Samantha looked up, trying to fight the tears from falling. "It won't be easy at all to regain your broken friendship with Brett... and it wouldn't be too easy to make them stop torturing you. And no, I'm sorry, I can't do anything more to help you but give you advice." Samantha didn't hold that long, and tears fell. She laughed it out, but she looked insane, laughing with tears in her eyes. "For now, just stay away from them. Keep your distance. Be distant, and be on low profile. Let them cool down, and then talk to them." Callie said, showing Samantha her smile of forgiveness and consideration.

As Callie waved goodbye to Samantha, Heath, Brett and Benny came surrounding her. "Don't go to the dark side." Heath said. "Heath, your problem with her, isn't mine. If you can't forgive her, I'm sorry to say that I can." Callie explained, looking at all of them individually. "But you don't know how it feels like to-" Callie stopped Benny from speaking, as she uttered words of her own, "I know this is hard for you guys, and I know you guys have lost things very important to you. And I know you'd say that I'm not in place to say this, but it really was against the school rules. Though I wished she would have thought about this before she spilled, but if you guys keep asking people to join your 'army', nothing's gonna happen. You'd torture her, sure. But at what cost? More trouble? Offense slips for bullying?" Callie looked at them again, feeling like she was a mother lecturing her children. "What's done is done, and we can't do anything to make things even. Because nothing, not one single thing is the same in this world. There are no such things as rewards and punishments, H." Callie looked at Heath, tilting her head towards him, then looking at Benny and Brett. "There are only consequences. Good or bad, you've gotta face the ones that respond to your actions. And just because I didn't join your 'army', doesn't mean I wont be here to help you get through it just a wee bit." Callie said with a half broken smile embeded on her lips. "Anything, I just don't want to help you guys torture her. It's not worth it." Callie waved goodbye at Heath, Brett and Benny who seemed to be shocked from the words that came out of Callie's mouth.

"Hey Trixie! Wait up!" Callie called out, running after Trixie Samuels. As she caught up with Trixie, she took a glance back at Heath, Brett and Benny talking seriously, and Samantha surrounded by her friends who comforted her. Callie observed all the different mini worlds that moved around her. There were so many different people, so many differences, so many possible conflicts, but what amazed Callied was how all of them managed to contain them selves, and how some of them just blurt out and try to kill each other. Even if they say take one side or else you're against both sides, making your own side, sometimes it's better to just listen to both, understand their point of views and just stay out of it. That's why it's a called misunderstanding-- you thought you're right and he/she was wrong, while he/she thought he/she was right and you were wrong. We can never please or get along with everybody in this cruel world, but maybe we could be just less of warfreaks and let go of things that are unnecessary to quarrel about. Ok, so do I sound like a teacher sermoning you now? If I am, that only means I have to stop putting my 'lectures' in these posts. We can't be sorry for being warfreaks [especially if that's our nature], but we can be sorry for using our warfreak-ness on people. ;]

The early bird catches the early news.

2008-11-19T22:41:00.004+08:00

Be my guest when I tell you the shocking news. So what do we have for today's menu? Well, let's see. X finds out A,B,C,D,E,F,G getting H-ed. And why and how? Here are the details:

Callie was walking through the Dumbarton Faculty Hall when Anne Stewart and Cassiopoea Rogers startled her at early morning. "Callie."Anne and Cassiopoea called her attention. Anne and Callie haven't really spoken for a while after fifth grade. Everything was just civil. As for Cassiopoea, Callie never really spoke to her about things other than school. So this is kind of new. "Are you mad at us?" Anne spoke seemingly nervous of Callie's reply. "No? Not unless you did something wrong that concerns me behind my back.. well.." Callie trailed off, obviously clueless. Callie had absolutely no idea about what was happening, but she had this feeling she just had to know. "Wait. You don't know?" Cassiopoea said as if it were a rhetorical question. "Unfortunately, I don't." Callie looked at them, why were they so nervous? I suppose they had something really bad to say to Callie, but it's not like it is their fault, right? "You don't know about Easy and the rest?" Anne said, sounding really concerned. Callie was startled. What about Easy? What happened yesterday? What's happening? Callie raised her brows and took a deep breath. "Expound." Callie commanded.

As they were starting to explain, a flashback ran through Callie's head. She remembered about how Benny had invited Brett to join some thing after class. Everything came flowing in: Heath, Easy, Solomon talking about some get together after class at some place. Benny inviting Brett to join them. Though its stated in the St. Lucius handbook that it is strictly prohibited to go out within the vicinity of 500 meters from the school wearing the school uniform, these people were risk takers, and all they wanted was just to have fun. Callie snapped back to normal as Anne asked again if Callie was mad. Callie stared at Anne, wondering how the faculty found out. "How did they found out? Did you guys tell?" Callie interrogated, showing some evident irritation. "No!" Cassiopoea denied, and with the look in Cassiopoea's eyes, Callie knew she wasn't lying. "I tried telling her not to tell Mrs. Fulton, but she wouldn't listen!" Cassiopoea added. "She said she didn't want Brett to get into such mess. She said she didn't want Brandon to get in trouble." Anne explained further. Callie was confused, what the hell were they talking about? Who is this 'she' they speak of? Why can't they just say the fucking bitch's name? "Wait. Brandon was in there too?!" Callie asked shocked. She never knew Brandon would get into something like that, he was always playing safe. "Yeah. Easy, Brandon, Brett, Benny, Solomon, Heath and Julian were caught. "Anne said looking a little distraught. "Fuck." Callie said with poise. "Wait a minute..." Callie trailed off, as she saw Brett crying and chiding in front of Samantha Croug. "Who is this she you guys are talking about?" Callie looked them in the eyes, as if she were to say that they better spill or else she'd ruin their lives. "Samantha." They said in unison. Callie's eyes narrowed looking at the obviously guilty girl sitting there being chided by her supposed to be best friend, Brett. "I'm gonna go get the bitch." Callie murmured as she walked away from Anne and Cassiopoea to cool herself down.

"B, What happened?" Callie asked firmly as she shook the crying Brett Messerschmidt. "She.. she told! When she knew that I was there! And she says she did that cause she didn't want me to get in trouble.. and she didn't want Brandon to get in trouble.. so she told Mrs. Montez and Mrs. Fulton.. and now we're all being suspended.. Brandon and Julian are gonna lose their chance for honorable mentions.. Heath's gonna be off the varsity team.. Benny's gonna lose her chance for honorable mention too.. Easy's gonna lose the chance of being KOA of the year... and we're all gonna get ones in our values.. I hate her! So much! How could she do thi-" Callie snapped at Brett before Brett could even continue. She knew Brett was in deep pain, she could feel it. "You have no idea on how it sucks for your best friend to do such malign act on you." Brett cried more, almost hyperventilating. "She makes no sense." Callie commented. "And she says that maybe God used her to tell her them message..." Brett explained as she tried to wipe off the overflowing tears from her cheeks. "Well, you guys were wrong though..." Callie said as she slowly lowered her voice. "But the bitch better not put God in here, she's insane. She might have thought her stupid act would work... fool." Callie said as she tried to calm down Brett.

Callie hated Samantha. Not because Easy got in trouble, but for her stupid excuses that made everything else worse. It was already bad that she could shut her big mouth up, and what came out of her big mouth made everything worse. She hated the fact that Samantha had just let Brandon, Julian, and Benny lose their chances in being part of the honor role, Easy losing his chance in being KOA of the year, Heath losing his spot in the varsity team, and the possibilites of reclusion perpetua grounding for Solomon and Brett. Silly woman, and she says that she did that so they wouldn't get in trouble. Access denied, Samantha has gone crack. So much for being best friends, right Brett?

Sacrifice.

2008-11-17T21:17:00.003+08:00

When you love somone, you'd do everything you can just to make them happy-- even if it meant to sacrifice your own feelings. I remember a line from Gossip Girl, season 1, when Dan and Rufus were conversing about how weird Serena was acting. And then Dan said, "So you're telling me to learn to be someone else with Serena so that she can be herself around me?"; "I could have said it better myself.", Rufus replied. So now, this is sort of a sequel of "Too Close for Comfort?". Enough chit chat, and lets get started.

I guess it's been pretty obvious that Callie had been a little too quiet the past few days. No laughing, no smiling. Back to the old Callie. The old boring silent Callie. And to some, they may think it's just those days wherein Callie would go all sentimental, but the truth is, it's not. It's just that Callie's just alone now. Since she isn't really hanging out with Jonas anymore, because she didn't want Easy to get mad or anything, and she and Trixie haven't really been speaking. They hang out, but they rarely have a good and sensible conversation.

So Callie was sitting down doodling while Ms. Sparks was discussing about something. Then after her oh so long discussion, Ms. Sparks, the really nice Religion teacher, asked them to make letters for each other. Callie made one for everyone she saw important to her. She made one for Trixie, Chuck, Isabela, Easy, Heath, Harry, Benny and Brett. So after that, they were asked to give the letters to their supposedly recipients. Callie handed them out, and so did her other classmates. Surprisingly, Easy had sent her one. It said that she could go and talk with Jonas again, as long as she was happy. Callie felt a slight pinch of relief but a huge touch of guilt. Was he really ready to actually sacrifice his own feelings for Callie's happiness? Well, it looks like he was.

Callie asked Easy several times if he was sure, and he just wasn't saying that because he was guilty or something. But Callie gave up, she took the offer. Albeit she had her 'freedom', Callie still didn't get too close with Jonas. If Easy could consider her happiness, then she should at least too consider his feelings. She didn't want Easy to be jealous from afar, while she was happy. Callie knew that Easy would never give a damn to give a sign of truce to Jonas, but also knew that Jonas was understanding enough to fathom what Callie wanted to happen.

Too close for comfort?

2008-11-16T19:15:00.004+08:00

It's been four months since Easy had asked Callie to be his girl. Everything was doing great, but well of course we can't avoid each other going all envious of the people who seem to be too close for comfort with your 'partner'. Jonas Pardee is not an exception. The full story? I'll summarize this a bit so it wouldn't be too long because honestly, I'm not in the mood to do detailed right now.

Callie and Jonas have been hanging out an awful lot lately. They've been having lunch together with Trixie and sometimes Isabela. They laugh together, make fools out of themselves together and just act down right stupid together. Callie had thought besides Trixie, Jonas was her guy bestfriend. But of course, she thought Easy was okay with that. Little did she know, he wasn't. So it all started when Callie and Jonas were both left behind in school, while everyone else had went home. They were hanging around the recycled stuff St. Lucius had asked everyone to bring in for this contest. They made stupid phrases and laughed to it. It made perfect sense, like a phrase and english teacher would use as an example for his class. But for some reason, I guess because of Jonas' infectuous laugh, Callie just laughed so hard. From that day on, Jonas treated Callie like his 'school sis', while Callie treated him like her 'school bro'.

As the time passed, Callie had been noticing how bitter Easy had started to be to her whenever she was Jonas. She also noticed how mean he was to Jonas ever since that day. Something fishy was going on, and she just had the feeling that Easy was jelly-ing over Jonas. "No. You go with Jonas." Easy would always say. What was his deal? So one day Callie just decided that maybe, just maybe if she'd stay away from Jonas, Easy wouldn't be so distant anymore. So she did so, she approached Jonas and explained. "Jo.. bro." She started off, Jonas seemed to know what she was going to say, Callie didn't spot any mark of surprise in his face. "Look. I know you're my bro and all, and you're a really good friend. It's just that.. I love Easy. And I was wishing, that as my bro, and as a friend, you'd understand if we'd distance ourselves from each other at a reasonable distance, right?" Callie asked. Jonas stared at her for a while, and then his straight face broke into a smile. "Sis, I understand. I'd do the same anyway if I was in your position. Just remember, if he ever ever hurts you, Imma kick his balls." Jonas said leading to laugh. Callie smirked, thankful that he was understanding enough to fathom what she wants to happen. "Thanks bro." Callie said, smiling, walking away as she waved goodbye at Jonas.

Jonas was the only person who could make Callie laugh till she cried, and now that Jonas is going to be pretty far from her, how will Callie survive? Will she go back to being her solitary self? Or would she continue her laughing out loud sessions with someone or some other people instead. Some things we'll never really know, sometimes we just got to hold on to something else and let everything else go-- even if it means, the ones who're closest to you. Love conquers all, but I guess love hasn't really met Jealousy just yet. And now that they've met, will Callie's life ever be the same? Who knows? All we can do is watch and let the good times roll.

When it rains.

2008-11-15T19:13:00.004+08:00

11: 50, The bell rang and declared lunch time. Callie was walking with Trixie in the corridors when Harry popped out and blocked the way. "Callie come with me." Harry said trying to pull Callie back to the classroom. "What? Why?" Callie asked. What was he up to this time? "Easy told me to get you." Harry said. Callie stared at him, wondering if Easy was really telling him to get her or was he just tripping. "But I'm gonna eat." Callie smiled and quickly pulled Trixie with her in escaping from Harry.

When they were down by the Main Office's Accounting Center, the rain started pouring and the temperature started dropping. It rained harder and harder, until it just stayed steady with it's splattering sounds on the roof of the catwalk. Callie and Trixie were having their everyday casual conversation about how Mr. Russo hadn't shown up for class again when Ryan Reynolds approached and blocked their way. "Hi Callie." Ryan grinned innocently, just like how a five year old would smile just to get some Callie. "Hey! What about me?!" Trixie complained. Trixie always had a itty bitty crush on Ryan, though it was so evident, Ryan never really did mind. "Uhh.. Hi? Trixie?" Ryan responded looking a wee bit terrified. "So.. Callie. Do you have a quarter?" Ryan smiled. Callie wasn't all that surprised. She was used to Ryan, Jack and Harry always asking money from her. Callie smiled at Ryan and and put her hand into her pocket searching for a spare lost quarter. Callie was about to hand it to him when a hand holding this somehow unrecognizable figure popped up in Callie's face. "What the hell?" Callie murmured as her intial reaction. She didn't really get what was that hand holding. She only knew that hand was holding something and it was blocking her way, not to mention her face. As the milliseconds ticked, Callie's vision became clearer. It was a ring. A black ring. And this hand was coming from behind her. "Shit." Callie closed her eyes tightly and wished that when she opened it the hand would be gone. But when she opened her eyes, the hand was still there and everyone else were right infront of her. Except for the owner of the hand, of course. Callie turned around, nervous of what or who she would see. And then a flash of memory from last Saturday morning rushed through her mind. Easy. It was Easy. The ring. The hand. It was Easy. "Uhhh.. sooo.. yeah? What do I do now?" Easy asked, obviously clueless of what he was supposed to do. Isabela ran towards them. "Kneel down!" Isabela ordered, Easy followed. "No. Stand up." Callie contradicted, Easy followed. "Kneel down!" Isabela ordered again, Easy did the same again. "No. Stand up!" Callie almost pleaded, and well, Easy, as you may have guessed, followed. "Kneel down." Isabela said slowly as if she was threatening him. "No.." Before Callie could even finish, Isabela had but in and stared at Callie badly. "If you don't let him kneel, I'll hate you." Isabela threatened. Ironically, she hugged Callie as she said this. "Ugh. Fine." Callie said disappointed. She didn't want anything to be scandalous, she knew the guard was watching. Easy knelt to the ground and held up the ring. "Will you.." Callie stopped him and said instead, "Didn't I already answer that last Saturday?" Easy scratched the back of his head and looked to the floor as if it had the answers to what he was supposed to do next. "Uhh.. yeah. Right. Uhm.. So..." Easy said, again acting clueless. "Just give her the ring. We're hungry." Ryan said leading on to a giggle. Just before anything else, Celine came running in. "Oh my God!" She squealed. Callie gave Celine a warning stare, Celine nodded and mouthed, "I'm sorry". As the people stared to crowd around them, Easy slipped the ring right into Callie's finger. Callie couldn't look or else she would end up laughing, so she just covered her eyes with her right hand. Just as Easy had finished, Harry clapped and started shouting, "Okay. There's nothing to see here. You can go now.". The people started leaving and Celine, Isabela and Trixie started squealing and squirming. Callie and Easy exchanged stares and they both left. Callie went to the canteen and Easy went somewhere with Solomon Uley and Harry.

Callie was sweating, she couldn't handle how everyone she passed asked her for details and how they wanted to see the ring. Callie couldn't eat properly cause she felt like almost everyone around her was looking at her. Well, why wouldn't she feel that way, almost everyone was actually looking at her. So as it seems, the 'news' spread quickly. Her classmates surrounded her, asking about how, when and why. Callie wanted to hide. So this is how being chased by paparazzis, Callie thought. Time passed quickly and lunch was ended. They went back to the classroom and resumed with their classes. So what happens next you ask? Well, only time can tell. :]